Friday 1 May 2020

Our emergency Coronavirus appeal will form part of #GivingTuesdayNow – a global day of giving and unity on 5 May 2020 to support the emergency response to the outbreak of the virus.​ 

We are asking members of the public to continue supporting us through our Coronavirus appeal, which was launched last month in response to the decrease in funds that Wales Air Ambulance would otherwise be able to raise to keep our life-saving medics in the air. 

Many of the ways that we raise vital funds includes face-to-face public events and footfall through its shops and North Wales-based cafe. Following government advice, all of our public activities have been postponed and our retail outlets have closed as the UK reacts to protect our society against the spread of the virus.   

As an important front-line service in the Welsh healthcare landscape, the Wales Air Ambulance service has a vital role in the response to the current pandemic, as well as continuing to attend non-virus-related medical incidents. 

Lynne Garlick, the Charity’s North Wales Fundraising Manager, explains: “This pandemic has brought untold chaos, hardship and suffering to countries around the world and as the scale of the crisis laid before us is significant, the Wales Air Ambulance has an important part to play.  

 “As a charity, we rely on the public’s incredible generosity to fund our four helicopters across Wales. We need to raise £6.5 million every year to keep the rotor blades turning. Many of our fundraising activities are no longer possible, so we are asking our dedicated supporters to get involved with activities such as Giving Tuesday. If you can help us, this is your chance to show your appreciation to our medics.” ​ 

The UK’s #GivingTuesdayNow lead, Grainne Mathews, said: ​“The Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) is proud to lead #GivingTuesdayNow here in the UK and to join wholeheartedly in this celebration of the people who are helping us through such dark days – charities have taken their place in helping to deliver for our communities and we could not be more inspired to support them in all that they do.” ​ 

There are several ways that the public can continue to support the Wales Air Ambulance. These include online donations, signing up to the Charity’s Lifesaving Lottery or by coming up with their own innovative ways to fundraise at home. Further information can be found via www.walesairambulance.com.  

Alternatively, you can help us by donating £5 via our text to donate number, to do this just text HELI to 70711. 

For more details about the Giving Tuesday UK movement, visit the Giving Tuesday UK website (www.givingtuesday.org.uk), or follow @GivingTuesdayUK and #GivingTuesdayNow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. ​