An outgoing council chairman has raised over £1,000 for the air ambulance.
Newark and Sherwood District Council’s chairman for the past year, Celia Brooks, has presented a cheque to her chosen charity Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance, a critical service providing emergency medical transportation across the two counties.
A grand total of £1,070 was raised through Celia Brooks’ fundraising efforts, supported by Newark and Sherwood District Council’s staff, councillors, and Edwinstowe Parish Council, through seasonal raffles and a cake sale.
Celia Brooks in her commendation of the charity, stated: “During my tenure as chair, I was keen to promote the fantastic work of Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance. I chose them because any resident, regardless of age or ability, may be in need of their service one day.
"All the money we raised was from Newark and Sherwood District Council staff, councillors, and Edwinstowe Parish Council, and I think the amount raised for such a worthy cause really demonstrates the kindness of all of those who got involved and donated. My thanks goes to them all."
While in office, the chairman of the council supports a charity of their choosing. They collaborate with the selected charity to raise awareness about its cause and actively participate in fundraising activities.
Steph Bradshaw, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance community fundraising manager, said: “As a charity, we rely heavily on fundraisers like councillor Celia Brooks to keep our helicopter flying and our critical care cars operational. A heartfelt thank you goes to everyone who donated — your contributions make these lifesaving missions possible.
“We attend on average four potentially life-saving missions a day, your support means we can operate 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, and we receive no government or NHS funding for our daily missions.”
The Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance, renowned for its rapid response and expert medical care, covers 3,500 square miles and has embarked on over 28,000 life-saving missions since its inception in 1994.
Celia Brooks added: “Anyone wishing to find out more information about the charity or how to donate, can do so by visiting the Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance website at www.ambucopter.org.uk”
The charity operates without direct government funding and faces £13million operational costs, and relies solely on the generosity of donations to maintain its critical services.
The funds raised will directly contribute to the charity’s ongoing expenses, including aircraft maintenance, medical equipment, and crew training, ensuring that the highly skilled doctors, paramedics, and pilots can continue to provide the best possible chance of survival to those critically ill or injured in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.
