BUSINESSES have pledged their support for Wiltshire Air Ambulance’s major fundraising appeal for its new airbase at Semington, near Melksham, by joining The 100 Club.
Businesses from across the county have signed up to the charity’s 100 Club and were at the official launch of it on Friday (10 March 2017) at Hartham Park, Corsham.
Each business who joins The 100 Club pledges to raise £10,000 for the Airbase Appeal. The appeal is raising the remaining £1.25 million towards completing the building and equipping of the new airbase.
Among the new 100 Club members is The Consortium, the education and care company based in Trowbridge.
Cathryn Petchey, HR Director at The Consortium, said: “We have been fundraising for Wiltshire Air Ambulance for several years – it’s a very popular charity with our staff. We love supporting the charity
because everyone realises that they, or their loved ones, could need the services of Wiltshire Air Ambulance at any time. We’re so pleased to be a member of The 100 Club to raise funds for the new airbase that will be purpose-built and enable Wiltshire Air Ambulance to continue to deliver its lifesaving service.”
Another new member is Lowden Garden Centre at Shaw, owned by Jonathan and Alison Sinclair.
Christopher Scott-Moody, events organiser at Lowden Garden Centre, said: “We are delighted to be on board The 100 Club. Wiltshire Air Ambulance is a very worthwhile charity and it is for anyone, my family have had cause to use it. We are planning a dinner and auction on 1 st July and a Christmas bazaar as part of our fundraising.”
The founding members of The 100 Club are Kingstons Estate Agents, Hartham Park, Excalibur, Coombe Castle and Goughs Solicitors.
Welcoming guests to the launch of The 100 Club Sam Thomas, Finance Director at Hartham Park, said: “The very special thing about Wiltshire Air Ambulance is that they are there for any one of us, should we ever need it, and their specialist equipment and superbly trained paramedics work to save lives whenever they are called out.”
Baroness Jane Scott, leader of Wiltshire Council, spoke at the launch and urged businesses to get on board.
She said: “The 100 Club campaign is a fantastic opportunity for businesses to not only support such a valuable community service as the air ambulance, but also help raise their own profile and give their own business a boost. Your support will be directly helping save peoples’ lives and we really can’t put a price on that.”
More than 60 people attended the launch of The 100 Club and they heard from patients and their families who had benefitted from the critical care skills of Wiltshire Air Ambulance’s paramedics and the speed of the charity’s state-of- the-art Bell 429 helicopter.
Pete Burch, who was airlifted by Wiltshire Air Ambulance after a serious road traffic collision on 7 March 2015 on the A30 outside Salisbury, said: “Wiltshire Air Ambulance is an incredible charity that saved my life.
We have to help Wiltshire Air Ambulance in their goal to get their new airbase and businesses can do that by joining The 100 Club.”
Also at the launch was Wiltshire Air Ambulance Charity Ambassador Shelley Rudman, the Skeleton Bobsleigh Olympian from the Pewsey Vale.
Wiltshire Air Ambulance flew in and landed at the launch and guests were given tours of it and its paramedics gave demonstrations of the medical equipment they use.
Cheryl Johnson, Head of Wiltshire Air Ambulance’s Airbase Appeal, said: “We’d like to thank everyone who attended the launch of The 100 Club and all the businesses who have become members. By joining The 100 Club, businesses will be playing a big part in helping us to create a legacy for Wiltshire, with a custom-built airbase that will enable us to save lives for many years to come.”
To find out more about the benefits of becoming a 100 Club member go to https://wiltshireairbaseappeal.co.uk/support-our- appeal/100club/ or email [email protected].
