Cornwall Air Ambulance - First Air Ambulance Service Trust

01/01/2007

Dear Sir/Madam

Twentieth Anniversary Year

The Cornwall Air Ambulance first took to the skies in 1987 and since then has become a very familiar site in the skies over Cornwall. It was the first air ambulance in the UK and 2007 sees it celebrate its 20th Anniversary. It is a tribute to the people of Cornwall that it has been, and continues to be funded by them without any financial support from Government, a situation that is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future.

The county of Cornwall lends itself ideally to a service of this kind, having a widely scattered population, many of whom live in remote and isolated communities, far distant from the nearest accident and emergency hospital facilities. During the summer months in particular, many of Cornwall’s narrow roads become clogged with holiday traffic, making any journey to hospital by conventional means a daunting prospect. The beaches, cliff tops and moorland areas where so many accidents occur, are also frequently inaccessible by road. The air ambulance flies approx. 1000 missions a year and from its base in St Mawgan it can reach any part of the County in 20 minutes, and the Isles of Scilly in 28 minutes and it has proven itself over the years to be an invaluable part of the County’s emergency services.

In 1987 when the service was first introduced it cost £250,000 pa, a sum at that time that was considered almost impossible to raise. The people of Cornwall however responded magnificently. In 2007 the service will cost in the region of £1,250,000 to ensure that the aircraft is available to fly ten hours a day, seven days a week. Although funds continue to be raised throughout the County, costs will undoubtedly increase and if the Trust is to continue to maintain this vital service, and/or enhance the flying hours or provide an additional helicopter the Trust must continue to secure additional funding.

Your organisation/business may be amongst those who have provided funding for the air ambulance over the past 20 years and if this is the case the Charity is extremely grateful. The Trustees believe that the 20 Anniversary is special for many reasons and are using the celebration of this milestone to ask your organisation/business to consider providing grant funding or indeed to organise a special fund-raising event on the Charity’s behalf sometime during 2007.

If you are prepared to hold a special fund raising event for the Charity we do have the facilities to assist you in advertising this through our web site, local newspapers, and radio and TV stations. All the Charity would require is at least three weeks notice of the event.

In 1987 in establishing the air ambulance service, Cornwall led the way. In celebrating the 20th Anniversary, Cornwall must ensure that it continues to lead the way if this vital service is to continue for the next 20 years and beyond.

Any financial assistance your organisation/business is able to give will be very much appreciated.

Yours faithfully
Harolds Signature

Harold Chapman CPFA, IRRV
Chairman and Hon. Treasurer