'Super Ted' still fighting thanks to Air Ambulance

Nov 22 2009 by Ken Oxley, Sunday Sun

Top tip to help boost fund

THANKS to more fantastic efforts from our readers, the Sunday Sun Air Angels campaign total has kept moving in the right direction.

After stumping up a stunning £50,000 in the first week, you have helped push the total to just under £65,000 in a fortnight!

But, to reach our ambitious £1m total, we need you to keep giving, keep pledging, and keep coming up with ways to raise funds.

By buying the region its own permanent, life-saving helicopter for the first time it means the Great North Air Ambulance will be able to continue giving youngsters such as miracle baby Ted Parks the fighting chance for life they deserve.

This week, we’re launching our restaurant and hotel scheme, where participating venues are automatically adding a £1 charge to each bill. That £1 comes straight to the Sunday Sun Air Angels campaign.

First to sign up is the bar-lounge and eaterie Rosco’s, on Newcastle’s Quayside.

Fundraising manager Mandy Drake said: “Thanks again to everyone for their effort, but please don’t stop . . . we’ve got a long way to go.See the section explaining how you can get involved . . . then get involved!

“A great way to help is to dine at the restaurants signed up with us and leave an extra special tip for the Air Angels campaign. Rosco’s is a great place for a night out, so treat yourselves and help us at the same time.

“Best of all, fill in a form and send us what you can spare. It will go directly towards saving lives.”

As Cumbria was gripped by torrential floods this week, the Air Ambulance was called into action to rescue a couple trapped in their car, and a suspected heart attack victim in a remote flooded spot.

On the way to the call-outs, our team captured video footage of the swarming waters from a bird’s eye view. Click here to watch the video 

Here's how you get on board

WE need your help to reach our target.

To get us started we’re appealing for readers to pledge amounts they can donate, or think they can raise.

Even if it takes a while for the money to arrive, at least we’ll know it’s coming.

Remember the Great North Air Ambulance receives no Government funding, lottery grants, or NHS support.

This week we’re launching our restaurant scheme, where eateries promise to automatically add £1 to each bill, which goes straight to the Air Angels fund.

Rosco’s, in Newcastle is already signed up and over the coming weeks we’ll be letting you know where else you can ‘eat out and help out’.

Other fundraising schemes we’ve already got up and running include:

:: Fold your own money boxes

:: Paper angels to hang Christmas messages on trees

:: Schools collecting old clothes to turn into cash

:: Encouraging restaurants and hotels to add a £1 to every bill for our cause

:: Fundraising packs

If you’ve got ideas of your own we’d love you to set up your own fundraising schemes, or sponsored events.

And we want you to let us know what you’re doing.

Each week we want to be able to show how families across the region are getting behind our campaign, so if you plan to raise cash please get in touch. And remember we want to hear about pledges as soon as you decide to go ahead.

For every £1 you donate the Air Ambulance can claim 28p back in tax, so please fill out the gift aid forms when you make your donation.

Above all we want the region to remember by helping the Sunday Sun with this campaign you are buying a stake in a helicopter and service which will belong to the region and will continue to mean the difference between life and death, and ease suffering for years to come.