DONATIONS to the Wiltshire Air Ambulance appeal to raise the funds needed for its flight room at its proposed new airbase will be doubled through a special online initiative.

The air ambulance charity is taking part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge to raise £20,000 for its new flight room, which would form part of its proposed new headquarters at Semington, near Melksham.

Half of the funding has already been pledged so WAA needs to raise a further £10,000 during the challenge, which runs for 72 hours from noon on Tuesday, November 29, to noon Friday, December 2.

During this period donations will be doubled until the match funding is exhausted or until the challenge finishes. The link to WAA’s donation page is bit.ly/BigGiveWAA

Also during this 72-hour period WAA staff and aircrew will be involved in a Tweetathon, posting about the variety of work that goes on behind the scenes at the charity

The flight room at the charity’s proposed new airbase on land at Outmarsh Farm is where the pilots and paramedics will co-ordinate their operational activities. The room will have specialist equipment, including wall mounted map boards and interactive display monitor.

Cheryl Johnson, head of capital appeal at WAA, said: “The flight room is at the heart of our operations. It’s where our aircrew plan and prepare for each mission safely and effectively.

"We are delighted to have been accepted in the Big Give Christmas Challenge. Unlike previous years there will be no pausing in this year’s campaign and there will be no competition between charities for matching funds.”

The £10,000 already pledged for WAA’s Flight Room comprises £3,000 from Hartham Park, Corsham, £2,000 from The Andrew Smiley Charitable Trust and £5,000 from its Big Give Charity Champion, Candis Club.

More information about the air ambulance at www.wiltshireairambulance.co.uk