I was thrilled and felt very privileged to visit the Notts Lincs Air Ambulance on 25th September to present a cheque raised from our charity ball in 2013. I was shown around the helicopter and talked through some of the procedures that have taken place whilst it is in flight. The air ambulance is used between 6 and 8 times per day on average and one of the furthest destinations covered by its service is Spalding, which ironically the helicopter had been to the same morning. From RAF Waddington the flight took just 17 minutes – crucial in a major trauma when the casualty needs expert care. One of the paramedics I spoke to has been with the ambucopter for 15 years and there are very few scenarios he has not attended. When the photo was taken we were asked to use the “standard stance of folded arms so we felt a part of the crew”. On a windswept airfield we had a rare opportunity to experience what is a vital service to Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. Our cheque was for nearly £2400 – one trip costs £1800 and the 1.8 million pounds it costs to run per year is all covered by donations. In November2013 the craft was covered to do night flights and more recently it has been fitted with a defibrillator, the first air ambulance in the country to have one, at a cost of £17,000. Thank you to everyone who supported our charity event which has benefitted Notts Lincs Air Ambulance, St Barnabas Hospice, KIDS Strut and Macmillan – all very worthwhile causes.

Sandra Purdy - Finance Manager