CHARITY PROFILE

PROFILE rescueFlying to the

Cornwall Air Ambulance is appealing to tourism businesses for support this summer.

Over the last decade, Cornwall has emerged Air Ambulance as a small, local charity to pounds each year, the charity is engaging as one of the world’s iconic destinations. deal with serious incidents has increased with local visitor resorts and attractions to From the sheltered bays of the significantly. try and bridge this fundraising gap. south coast to the dramatic north coast, ancient woodlands, moors and river estuaries. It’s a win-win In 2020, around 14% of airlifted patients were visitors to Cornwall and Visitors who are seeking a for all parties the Isles of Scilly. 81 break from the last 12 months adults and 16 children of isolation are flocking to had the flight they didn’t Cornwall in numbers. Tourism plan to take while on their bosses predict that visitor numbers will holidays. Yet less than 5% of donations to the exceed five million in 2021 and the charity come from the tourism sector. With pressure on Cornwall visitor missions costing nearly half a million Interim CEO of Cornwall Air Ambulance, Steve Murdoch, says: “While four out of five patients are local people, it is true that one fifth of the incidents we attend are to help seriously sick and injured visitors. We need to work in collaboration with tourism businesses across Cornwall to meet the increased cost of trying to save lives when things go horribly wrong for people on holiday.

WHAT YOUR BUSINESS CAN DO TO SAVE A LIFE

The charity is asking tourism businesses to support them by highlighting the value and importance of Cornwall Air Ambulance to their visitors. There are so many ways in which you can do that: • Offer visitors the option to add-on a donation when booking • Donate £1 for every new booking or a percentage of your sales • Place donation envelopes within your business • Host a collection jar in your reception and guest areas • Hold a fundraising event using your facilities • Display Cornwall Air Ambulance posters and other materials • Encourage your staff to take on a charity event by paying their registration fee

Whatever way your business chooses to support the charity, there are a whole host of benefits you will receive from the collaboration. • Tourism Business Supporter brand stamp to display in your business and online • Brand association with one of Cornwall’s best-known charities • Dedicated fundraising and marketing support including social media promotion and press releases • The opportunity for you to visit Cornwall Air Ambulance HQ

“It’s a win-win for all parties, for the businesses who work with us, the patients whose lives could be saved and for the charity to continue flying to those in need.”

Thomas Hennessy Jones, Critical Care Paramedic, says: “No one expects to be airlifted when they go on holiday, but every In 2020, around year we go to the aid of visitors who desperately 14% of airlifted need our help. I’m appealing to businesses patients were to add yourself to the list of many others visitors to who are backing this Cornwall and the campaign, to ensure the crew can continue Isles of Scilly to save lives for many years to come.”

THE DIFFERENCE IT MAKES

Paul Crutchley was one day into his family holiday in Hayle when he became seriously unwell. What started as a fun trip to the beach on 21 July 2020, ended with a ride in the air ambulance.

Paul says: “My family and I had travelled from South Wales to Riviera Sands Holiday Park the day before and we were looking forward to another great holiday break at our favourite place. We planned a nice relaxing day on the beach and the weather was amazing. I had been for a swim and was standing in the sea watching my two sons, Ellis and Evan, playing. We were all relaxed and enjoying the nice time after a hard year.

“My wife Lindsay joined me when I suddenly felt strange. I turned to say I was going to sit down for a while but did not get the chance. The next thing I can remember is coming round face down in the water.”

Lindsay raised the alarm with RNLI lifeguards who came to assist and called for the ambulance service. With suspected cardiac-related issues, Cornwall Air Ambulance was tasked to the scene. The helicopter landed nearby on the beach.

Paul recalls: “The whole incident is rather vague, but I can remember hearing the helicopter and then as it got nearer, I realised it was coming to me. I felt scared then, I knew it must be serious.”

Critical care paramedics from Cornwall Air Ambulance assessed Paul, before transferring him to the helicopter. He was flown to Royal Cornwall Hospital- a journey which took just ten minutes by air.

“The air ambulance was amazing at getting me off the beach fast, which would have been very hard due to the terrain and the fact I am no small lump,” says Paul. “I am on the mend thanks to all the people who helped me and my family that day.”

Paul is planning to return to Hayle in the future for another holiday and hopes to meet the crew who helped him.

To pledge your support to Cornwall Air Ambulance and ensure this vital service continues to save lives in Cornwall, please get in touch with their team by emailing fundraising@cornwallairambulancetrust.org or calling 01637 889926.

CAMEL VALLEY VINEYARD

Camel Valley has donated thousands of pounds over the years to help keep the Cornwall Air Ambulance helicopter flying. The Bodmin-based winery has been in partnership with the charity for more than 10 years, raising vital funds from their popular vineyard tours. Donations to the charity from Camel Valley exceed £23k.

Bob Lindo, owner of Camel Valley Vineyard, says: “My daughter Esther was taken to Treliske in the Cornwall Air Ambulance and we’ve been donating ever since. I’ve been rescued by the crew myself after breaking my spine in an RAF ejection. The sense of relief, when you hear the rotors approaching, is beyond belief, but it’s not a trip I’d like to repeat!”

THE GREENBANK & THE ALVERTON HOTELS

Ben Young, managing director of the Greenbank and Alverton Hotels says: “In 2019, we chose Cornwall Air Ambulance as our charity of the year, alongside our sister hotel The Alverton. We pledged to raise £10k for the charity from each hotel, and happily we surpassed this amount through continuous fundraising and events.

“From team skydives and our Coastal Convoy (where we walked the coast path from The Alverton to The Greenbank on a sunny Sunday) to pub quizzes, charity auctions, and generous guest donations, we managed to exceed £34k total! We enjoyed really positive team experiences from all our activities and knowing we were raising money along the way was tremendously rewarding for us all.

us, we can all help to keep the helicopter flying and carrying out vital lifesaving work throughout Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.”

CORNISH HORIZONS

No one expects to Harriet Wills, marketing manager at Cornish Horizons, be airlifted when says: “When we met the Cornwall Air Ambulance team they go on holiday we were in complete awe of the amazing work carried out by the charity and wanted to help raise some of the money it needs. We asked our customers to add £2 “With less than 5% of donations to Cornwall to the payment of their holiday so that we can Air Ambulance coming from the tourism pass on, in full, the total donation. We initially sector, it is our responsibility as hoteliers to do hoped to raise £3.5k, but it ended up raising our bit to make a difference to this surprising over £9k, that’s over 4,000 holiday-makers statistic. With a busy tourist season ahead of who donated.”