Air Ambulance flies in to say thanks
The Surrey Air Ambulance (SAA) made a spectacular visit to Farnham on Monday to collect the latest donation from the Easter Eggstravaganza. The helicopter touched down on the playing fields of All Hallows Catholic School and Sixth Form College to the cheers of a large crowd of Lions Club members, school pupils and supporters.
This is the fifth year that this particular fundraising event has supported the Surrey Air Ambulance and after four years the collective donation stood at over £60,000.
This year’s event was again organised by Farnham Lions, and supported by clubs from Frimley & Camberley, Leatherhead, Surrey Borders, Guildford, Godalming, Cranleigh and Fleet from District 105D, who together raffled some 265 giant Easter Eggs raising a very respectable £17,842, plus a donation from Woking. Zone Chairman Tony Oliver presented the cheque to Nikki Ferguson, the Surrey Trustee of the SAA. .
Since 2007 the total sponsorship money has reached over £78,000. The impact of this donation is clear when one recognises it costs over £1000 per lift off and the SAA gets no financial support from either central Government or the NHS.
We have seen at first hand the number of missions flown into Farnham alone in the last few months, without which the victims of road traffic accidents and heart attacks may not have survived‖. Lions Clubs have built a special bond with the Surrey Air Ambulance, one which it is hoped will continue for many years ahead, but we are only too aware that without the tremendous support of the public there is no Eggstravaganza at all, so our thanks go to every man woman and child that participated.
Over the past 4 years Surrey Border Lions alone have raised £5000.