Londons Air Ambluance Appeals

8001FV July 2006

LONDON AIR AMBULANCE LAUNCHES

FRESH APPEAL FOR VITAL FUNDS

London’s Air Ambulance (LAA) today launches a fresh appeal for funds to keep this crucial emergency service in the air.

A familiar sight in the London sky, the LAA has flown over 17,000 missions since it was founded in 1989 and is London’s only air ambulance service. Based at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, it was set up to deal with major trauma incidents that need to be treated immediately at the scene.

The LAA has been involved in all major incidents in the capital over the past few years, including the train crashes at Cannon Street, Southall and Paddington, the Soho Bomb and the terrorist attacks on London’s transport system on July 7^th 2005, when it carried out 26 missions and helped treat many people on the ground.

The LAA prides itself on the speed and efficiency of the service and takes no more than 15 minutes to reach any accident within the M25 orbital, bringing a Trauma Doctor, a Paramedic and vital surgical equipment to the scene.

However, the service is a registered charity and relies on donations and fundraising in order to stay operational. Each day costs the service almost £5,000 with the annual cost totalling over £1.7 million. The NHS donates almost half the cost each year. Virgin is also a principal donor and they also guarantee the lease on the helicopter.

The costs of running the LAA has risen over the past years and the team of fundraisers need to raise £750,000 to keep the service running this year. Fundraising activity includes anything from charity auctions and events to collection buckets and boxes around London.

Andrew Cameron, Chief Executive of the London’s Air Ambulance Charity, calls on Londoners to help keep the service. “The LAA is the only air ambulance service in London, for Londoners. What people don’t realise is that we rely on charitable donations to stay operational. While all Londoners hope that they never need to rely on LAA, many who have been helped by our team certainly owe their lives to the service and it’s important that we keep this vital service in the air.”

Other facts about the LAA:

• The London’s Air Ambulance completed 1,306 missions in 2006, including 548 road traffic accidents and 205 stabbings

• The London’s Air Ambulance serves approximately 10 million people within the M25

• The London’s Air Ambulance travels across the skies of London at 175mph and 1,500 feet

• The London’s Air Ambulance can land in any space twice the length of the helicopter

For more information about the LAA and how you can make a donation, please visit www.londonsairambulance.com or email Christine.margetts@bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk

- Ends -

For media information, images or an interview with Andrew Cameron please contact Louisa Herbert or Helen Pattison at Publicasity on

020 7632 2400 or laa@publicasity.co.uk

Notes to editors

• The London’s Air Ambulance is a registered charity (no. 801013)

http://www.londonsairambulance.com
Christine Margetts
London's Air Ambulance
Fundraising Manager
Direct Line: 0207 943 1302
Mobile: 07932695389
Fax: 0207 943 1331
www.londonsairambulance.com
Charity number: 801013
Text 88101 to donate to London's Air Ambulance

Text LAA1 to donate 90p (texts cost £1.50)
Text LAA3 to donate £1.50 (texts cost £3.00)
Text LAA5 to donate £3.00 (texts cost £5.00)

Or text LAA10 to 83149 to donate 50p a month (texts cost £1)

Terms and conditions apply. Please check our website before texting
/http://independenthelpline.blogspot.com/