David Essex backs our air angels campaign

Jan 16 2011 by Rob Pattinson, Sunday Sun

:: Watch David Essex receive his wristband from Mandy Drake

OUR Air Angels campaign received more top celeb backing this week as the Air Ambulance continued to fly to the rescue of patients across the region.

Pop legend David Essex gave his full backing to our campaign by sporting one of the Great North Air Ambulance Service’s charity wristbands.

The ’70s star, who has been in the North playing Captain Hook, in Darlington Civic Theatre’s pantomime Peter Pan, met fundraising manager Mandy Drake and urged families across the North to do all they can to support the charity and our bid to raise £1m to help secure the flying doctors’ future.

David’s backing came as the Air Angels fund broke through the £900,000 barrier thanks to the fantastic generosity of Sunday Sun readers and families across Cumbria, County Durham, Northumberland, North Yorkshire, Tyne and Wear and Teesside.

The singer-turned-actor also urged fundraisers to do all they can to help the charity cover its day-to-day running costs.

Sporting his GNAAS wristband, which are available for fundraisers to sell in support of the charity, David said: “It was great to meet Mandy from the Great North Air Ambulance Service and hear about the Air Angels campaign.

“Being a pilot myself I have a keen interest in helicopters, so I know the difference a service like this can make to the public.

“I was staggered to hear how much the charity has to make each year, and urge people of the North to get on board and back this life-saving charity in any way they can.”

Meanwhile, a baby was recovering in hospital last night after being airlifted from his County Durham home after suffering scalding at home.