Have a heart and support your local air ambulance charity

Great

Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC), providers of an air ambulance for the

2.1m residents of our region, are encouraging people to support their cause this

February as part of a new initiative called "Love Your Air Ambulance" month.

The

charity, based in Filton, Bristol, is currently trying to raise £250,000 of

additional funds for a new Eurocopter EC 135 helicopter in

order to replace the ageing Bölkow 105 model that it currently uses. A new

helicopter would attend to patients four minutes faster, would allow a mother

and child to fly to hospital together and would allow more space for the

patient, equipment and mid-air treatment.

During

February, local businesses, schools and community groups are being encouraged

to "love" their air ambulance by wearing red or pink for a dress down day, by

holding a raffle or a heart themed cake sale.

In 2010, Ian

Taylor, 63, suffered a cardiac arrest while out with family in Gloucestershire

and was attended to by the air ambulance at the scene, before being transferred

to the intensive care unit at Bristol Royal Infirmary Hospital.

Ian visited

the air ambulance's base in Filton to thank the crew that went to his aid, and

in support of Love Your Air Ambulance month said: "Without the critical care

support I received from the Great Western Air Ambulance, I wouldn't be here

today.

"It's amazing

to think such a vital service is actually a charity, so in addition to the medical

team, thank you to everyone who generously donates to the organisation, which

made my invaluable care possible."

John Christensen, Chief Executive of GWAAC, said "The air ambulance

attends on average one cardiac arrest per day. With love and hearts normally at

the forefront of people's minds during February, we thought that this would be

the perfect time to remind the people of our region that in order to continue

operating, our charity relies on the support of the people that we serve as we

receive no Government or National Lottery funding.

"You never know when you might need us, and that's why it's so

important for people to support our cause and to help keep our air ambulance

flying."

For more information about Love Your Air Ambulance month and

to get involved with a fundraising activity, please contact Emma Carter on 0303

4444 999, email emma.carter@greatwesternairambulance.com

or visit www.loveyourairambulance.com