Sky's the limit for ambitious air ambulance chief

Jan 3 2010 by Rob Pattinson, Sunday Sun

You can play a part in helping our charity soar

:: Click here to support our Air Angels campaign

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.

Recently we launched our restaurant scheme, where eateries promise to automatically add £1 to each bil l, 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

* Schools collecting old clothes to turn into cash

* Encouraging 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, tell us 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 readers to remember that 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.

:: Click here to support our Air Angels campaign