Anglia Lift Off issue 41 winter 2015 by East Anglian Air Ambulance

LiftOff Anglia

Issue 41 Winter 2015

CPR-ATHON TRAINS 400 TO SAVE LIVES NEW AIRCRAFT Second H145 on its way Page 6

FOUNDER RETIRES Chairman looks back at 15 years Page 12

We need you today You may need us tomorrow Donate £5 Text Heli to 70500 Charity No. 1083876

FULLY CHARGED 500 join Archdeacon’s run Page 28

Anglia

LiftOff ISSUE 41 WINTER 2015

Contents CPR saved Tracey’s life

New Cambridge base

Recent missions

Region learns CPR skills

Chairman’s reflections

Anniversary celebrations

Great day at charity air show

Thursford to host EAAA event 18 Carol ‘retires’ to EAAA

Lottery winners

Are you brave enough?

500 run Archdeacon’s Charge

How to help us

Your regional fundraiser: North Cambridgeshire/West Norfolk – Chris Donaldson 94 Culley Court, Orton Southgate, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE2 6WA 01733 367208 / christopher.donaldson@eaaa.org.uk South Cambridgeshire – Barbara McGee Melbourn Science Park, Cambridge Road, Melbourn, SG8 6EE 01763 262697 / barbara.mcgee@eaaa.org.uk Suffolk – Nigel Donkin 9 Alpha Business Park, White House Road, Ipswich IP1 5LT 01473 745007 / nigel.donkin@eaaa.org.uk Norfolk – Holly Lambert Hangar E, Gambling Close, Norwich Airport, Norwich NR6 6EG 01603 489406 / holly.lambert@eaaa.org.uk

Welcome As I write this, 2015 is drawing to a close and it has been a momentous year at East Anglian Air Ambulance. We have celebrated our 15th anniversary and put into service our new H145 aircraft which operates out of Cambridge with the call-sign Anglia Two. By the time you read this our crews should be working out of our new base at Cambridge Airport, details of which are on page 6. These projects, and indeed the second new helicopter which we’ll take delivery of in early 2016, wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support of people across the region. Next year we’ll need to raise in excess of £10 million to continue saving lives. We are committed as a charity to ensuring that our fundraising effort is carried out responsibly and transparently.

Bedfordshire – Kay Marter Unit 1 Water End Barns, Eversholt, Nr Woburn, Bedfordshire, MK17 9EA 01525 718517 / kay.marter@eaaa.org.uk General enquiries: 0845 066 9999 Website: eaaa.org.uk Email: info@eaaa.org.uk Lottery: lottery@eaaa.org.uk Charity number: 1083876 Editor: Advertising: Design: Print:

Clare Phillips liftoff@eaaa.org.uk Marina Jacobs 07727 749208 barberjackson.com barnwellprint.co.uk

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CBP0911159335

By using Carbon Balanced Paper through the World Land Trust on this publication we have offset 7303kg of Carbon & preserved 361sqm of critically threatened tropical forests.

Carbon Balanced Paper. One of the most sustainable forms of communication that will reduce your carbon foot print and promote CSR. www.carbonbalancepaper.com

Cover picture: Our first ever CPR-athon (see page 10)

We welcome the report into fundraising regulation, published by Sir Stuart Etherington for the Government, and are saddened at the reported aggressive fundraising tactics of a few towards vulnerable people, that made this necessary. As an organisation that places considerable value on its relationship with supporters, we deplore any inappropriate fundraising approaches to anyone. I know that this sentiment has always been in the mind of our founder and retiring Chairman Andrew EgertonSmith MBE who has led the charity to where it is today. Andrew’s vision and leadership to develop this service has been the inspiration for our Trustees, staff and countless volunteers and supporters over the last 15 years. As Andrew stands down and Major General Sir William Cubitt takes on the Chairmanship I want to thank him on behalf of everyone involved with the organisation for creating this wonderful charity. You can read more about Andrew’s achievements on page 12 and I am delighted that he will remain involved with EAAA. I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank Sir Keith Pearson who has retired as a Trustee and welcome to the Board Nigel Savory. If you received this issue of Anglia Lift Off in the post you’ll notice on the address sheet a reminder of our Christmas Raffle. If you have books of tickets to go into the draw that you have been meaning to send back, please don’t delay, now that the rush of the Christmas post is upon us.

Once Christmas is out of the way, you might feel minded to make a New Year Resolution. If that’s to take on a new challenge then why not consider our Only The Brave adventure race at Elveden in March – details are on page 26 and I am full of respect for a number of EAAA staff and former patients who have already signed up and have also persuaded me to join them! Thank you for taking the trouble to find out more about our work through this edition of Anglia Lift Off and for your support of our service which has enabled thousands of patients to receive prehospital care in their hour of need over the last 15 years. Finally, I couldn’t resist but share this magnificent photo of the Red Arrows and Anglia One with you. It was taken by one of our doctors, Jeremy Mauger. As 2015 comes to an end, all of us at EAAA wish you a peaceful Christmas and hope that 2016 brings a lot to look forward to. Together, we save lives. Patrick Peal Chief Executive

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Brownie leader saved by CPR Brownies and Girl Guides in Bedfordshire have helped raise more than £600 for EAAA as a thank you after one of their leaders collapsed with an undetected heart condition. Tracey Beard, who lives near Bedford, was one of the leaders at a special event to celebrate 100 years of Brownies in June 2014. More than 100 youngsters had been staying overnight at a farm near the Cambridgeshire border to mark the centenary. Tracey said: “I don’t remember anything at all about the weekend now, but it was the Sunday morning and the leaders had got together to finalise plans for the rest of the event before the parents came to collect the children. Without warning I just collapsed.” A fellow Guide leader Sue Martin, immediately started CPR while others called for an ambulance and ensured that the children at the camp, including Tracey’s own daughter Megan, were kept away from the scene of the drama. “Sue was brilliant,” Tracey added. “She started doing CPR and I understand she just kept going and wouldn’t stop

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until the ambulance crew arrived. They were followed by the air ambulance, whose clinicians gave further treatment but I was too unstable to be flown to hospital so the doctor went with me in the ambulance to Bedford Hospital.” Tracey was diagnosed with a condition called Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy which is also known as HOCM or HCM. It’s an inherited disease which affects around one in 500 people and can cause an abnormal heart rhythm, which in some cases can be fatal. After two weeks in hospital Tracey was transferred to Papworth Hospital for specialist heart surgery and had an ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator) fitted to keep the rhythm of her heart normal. She was in hospital a further two weeks before being allowed home

“Everyone who came to my aid on the day was absolutely amazing and I owe my life to the people who were there”

at the end of July. Her daughter has undergone tests, which so far suggest she hasn’t inherited the condition. Tracey said the experience has made her whole family far more aware of the importance of being able to act in such an emergency. Her husband Andrew has even personally funded a community defibrillator for the Brownie and Guide groups to have available at their fun days and camps and both he and Tracey have taken part in local training sessions to ensure they can use it.

Tracey added: “The Brownie leaders are all first aid trained and I work as a teaching assistant at a local primary school so I know what an important skill CPR is. Brownies do take a first aid badge, but they don’t routinely do CPR as part of it. It is part of their advanced first aid badge and the Guides are taught it too. “Everyone who came to my aid on the day was absolutely amazing and I owe my life to the people who were there. I can’t thank them enough.”

This spring the Brownies and Guides of North Bedfordshire organised a special fun day to raise money for EAAA. A series of stalls and tombolas meant they raised more than £600 which they presented to EAAA fundraiser Andrew Draycott in October.

EAAA is campaigning, with other emergency medical organisations and charities in the region to raise awareness about the importance of CPR in a life-threatening situation.

The youngsters have also been learning about the work of the air ambulance at their Brownie meetings.

Find out more about our recent CPR-athon and how we are working with local schools on page 10.

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NEWS New base for Anglia Two crew

The new Cambridge base takes shape

As this edition of Anglia Lift Off went to print, our crews who operate out of Cambridge Airport were looking forward to moving into brand new premises within the airport complex.

Base manager Mark Milsom said: “To have everything in one place in one building will make a huge difference to the crews’ working environment. And the helicopter will be just outside the door.”

The two storey base began in midSeptember with delivery of a modular steel frame built out of 14 blocks. The project was expected to take 11 weeks with staff moving into it in early December.

Meanwhile staff at our Norwich base are looking forward to the arrival of our second H145 aircraft, which is due to go into service early in 2016. This is one of the first photographs shortly before it was delivered to our helicopter provider Bond Air Services headquarters in Gloucestershire.

Increasingly stringent requirements for training and health and safety from regulatory authorities mean the crew members working on Anglia Two have outgrown the existing premises. The new H145 aircraft also has two pilots rather than one and in the old accommodation staff operated out of two ends of the building and were very tight for space.

CommunitY award for Jemma Critical Care Paramedic (CCP) Jemma Varela who is based at Cambridge was recently a winner in the Cambridge News Community Awards. Jemma won the Emergency Services Award, which was presented at a gala evening at Homerton College. Meanwhile as Anglia Lift Off went to press another CCP, Chris Neil, had been shortlisted in the Hospital/Ambulance person of the year at the Eastern Daily Press Stars of Norfolk Awards. The winners were due to be announced in early December. And Jemma and colleague CCP Rod Wells were shortlisted for the Stars of Suffolk Awards for their work as volunteers with the Suffolk Accident Rescue Service.

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New Fundraising Director Joanna Dew has joined EAAA as Director of Fundraising. Jo’s charity background includes working for Oxfam and Macmillan Cancer Support where she was closely involved with the charity’s famous coffee morning and a national walks programme. She joins EAAA from the Hospice of St Francis, in Berkhamsted, Herts, where she was Director of Fundraising and Communications. Jo said: “As someone who once considered a career as a paramedic and volunteered with St John Ambulance, working with EAAA is the perfect charity job for me. I grew up in Cambridgeshire, went to college in Peterborough and have close family links with Norfolk so I know this region well. I’m looking forward to meeting the charity’s supporters, without whom the helicopters couldn’t fly. If readers of Anglia Lift Off have any thoughts about our fundraising direction that they wish to bring to my attention I would welcome them at Joanna.dew@eaaa.org.uk.”

Social media highlights Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for regular postings about news, events and pictures. Find us on Facebook as East Anglian Air Ambulance Charity and on Twitter as @EastAngliAirAmb. We also have Facebook and Twitter pages for each of the four counties we cover and regularly share their content and we’re on YouTube and Pinterest too. Here’s what people have been talking about recently: Lauren Nichols Three years ago today you saved my partner’s life, we will be forever grateful.

@farmerkit Today we are marking 5 years since cousin @potatofarmertim had an accident. @EastAngliAirAmb probably saved his life. Only The Brave Races Welcome to Only The Brave Races - raising money for the East Anglian Air Ambulance Charity. A brand new mudfest obstacle course racing event based in Thetford. Have you got what it takes? Take on the challenge at: www.onlythebraveraces.co.uk @KerseyFreight Big day tomorrow unveiling our new support for the fantastic and amazing @EastAngliAirAmb #KFLproudtosupport. Kathryn Rowland Sing! Choirs Sing! Choirs are really pleased to announce that they raised over £1,800 for East Anglian Air Ambulance Charity in their summer concerts in July! This takes their total in just one year to almost £10,000 raised for charity! @EveningNews Mother donates more than £1,000 to the @EastAngliAirAmb after it helped save the life of her critically ill son.

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Recent Missions Read about our missions and view the mission map at eaaa.org.uk These pages show a snapshot of the incidents we attend.

Taken a picture of Anglia One or Anglia Two?

We could feature it here – send it to liftoff@eaaa.org.uk

Facts and figures since our last issue

This picture of Anglia One landing on the beach at Cromer was sent to us by supporter Stuart Viney who was attending the carnival in the resort when the EAAA crew was called to a young boy who had fallen off the promenade. He’d suffered a head injury and was treated at the scene before being taken to hospital by road. The crew of Anglia One are pictured here packing the helicopter at the Queen Elizabeth II hospital in King’s Lynn. They had airlifted a woman from a beach at Brancaster after she suffered a leg injury.

Between July and September we were tasked to a total of

512 missions and

20 of those after dark. Our crews treated 371 casualties with 137 attended by Anglia One and 234 by Anglia Two. Of these 76

flew

went to hospital by helicopter. During this period more patients

(100)

required our assistance after suffering cardiac arrest than any other type of emergency.

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A man was flown to hospital after a road collision involving a car and a motorbike in Cambridgeshire. The patient, in his thirties, had suffered arm and leg injuries.

A cyclist who suffered a head injury after she fell from a bike in North Norfolk was flown to Addenbrookeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital by the crew of Anglia One.

A one-year-old baby girl was airlifted, accompanied by her mum, from her home in Suffolk to a specialist burns unit. The child was treated for scalds by the air ambulance crew of Dr Pam Chrispin and Critical Care Paramedic Rod Wells.

A patient in his sixties who had gone into cardiac arrest and suffered a head injury was treated by the crew of Anglia Two having had initial CPR and treatment by the ambulance team at the scene in Ipswich. He was flown to hospital in Norwich in 17 minutes. A pensioner suffered a broken leg in a fall on the beach at Wells-next-theSea and was airlifted to hospital by Anglia One. The Coastguard assisted with clearing a landing space on the beach for the aircraft.

Anglia Two was called after the pilot of a light aircraft made an emergency landing in Cambridgeshire. The man, in his seventies, was treated at the scene by the EAAA clinicians and went to hospital in Peterborough by road. Anglia One was called to the aid of a man who had become seriously ill at a caravan park in Norfolk. The man, in his sixties, was flown to hospital in Norwich.

Anglia One landed in the grounds of a hotel in Hunstanton when the crew were called to treat a holidaymaker who had suffered a medical emergency. The patient went to hospital by road, with the air ambulance crew continuing treatment on the way.

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Cover Story

Delivering Excellence If someone collapsed in front of you and had stopped breathing, would you know what to do? Thanks to a CPR-athon campaign involving EAAA clinicians and those from other medical organisations in the region around 400 more people now do. Cardiac arrests can happen to anyone, of any age, at any time. In a cardiac arrest, every second counts. The chances of someone being brought back to life after going into cardiac arrest can be greatly improved by cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). EAAA has already been instrumental in holding CPR sessions in schools. The UK is one of only a few countries in Europe where it is not compulsory as part of the school curriculum. Medical Director, Alastair Wilson, said: “I can’t stress enough the importance of bystanders being trained and knowing how to perform CPR. Bystander CPR can increase the survival rate of a cardiac arrest victim by 60%.” Ambulance staff, volunteers and others joined EAAA, Essex and Herts Air Ambulance, Magpas, Norfolk Accident Rescue Service and Suffolk Accident Rescue Service to ‘take over’ shopping centres and community venues across the East of England to teach CPR and other basic life-saving skills. And the

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free, first of its kind event was such a success it has been nominated for a prestigious award. Each training session of just a few minutes involved practical life-saving skills using clinical ‘Annie’ dummies, plus advice on what happens following a 999 call and further information on cardiac care. Visitors also learned that when a heart stops beating, just three minutes can be the difference between life and death and fewer than one in five people with a survivable cardiac arrest receive the lifesaving intervention they need.

We continue hearing positive feedback which fuels our enthusiasm

Sandy Brown, EEAST’s Director of Nursing and Clinical Quality, added: “The CPR-athon was a massive project relying on the goodwill of dozens of our clinical teams around the region, and we’d like to thank all of the venues for helping us host this event to improve the skills of the everyday person in the street, and also raise awareness of our work for critically ill patients.” The CPR-athon was shortlisted by the Association of Air Ambulances for the Campaign of the Year and Innovation of the Year awards. The awards ceremony took place after Anglia Lift Off had gone to print. Diana Jakubowska, EAAA Head of Communications, said: “We continue hearing positive feedback which fuels our enthusiasm and we are thrilled that the CPR-athon has been recognised by the Association of Air Ambulances. We’re hoping it will become an annual event.

“On behalf of all organisers, we’d like to thank all the clinicians, first responders, fire brigade and staff who volunteered to help make this day a success. Together we save lives.” As part of our CPR awareness work with local schools recently, Critical Care Paramedic Neil Flowers has held workshops at Hampton Hargate Primary School and Highlees Academy, both in Peterborough, where he taught lifesaving skills to students in Years 5 and 6. To continue this valuable work in this part of the region we are looking for sponsors from the business community to cover the cost of sending a clinician to a school. If you can help fund this work in North Cambridgeshire please contact our Area Fundraising Manager Chris Donaldson whose details are on page 2.

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Chairman’s retirement is end of an era The founder of the East Anglian Air Ambulance charity Andrew Egerton-Smith MBE has retired as Chairman of the Trustees after more than 15 years at the helm. Although the campaign to get an air ambulance service for the region began officially in 2000, Andrew was already looking at the possibility of such a service in the late 1990s when he was Chairman of the NHS Ambulance Service Trust that covered Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. Andrew said: “A paramedic asked me when our region might get an air ambulance, but at the time there was a lot of work to be done within the service and I couldn’t see an air ambulance starting until the land ambulance service was in better shape.” But with the seed of the idea sown, Andrew was soon approached by Gerry Hermer, then of Sterling Helicopters and who is still EAAA’s aviation adviser and Patrick Peal, who later became a Trustee and is now our Chief Executive, after they had been involved with a very short trial service. Convinced

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of the need for something more permanent Andrew looked into setting up a charity to fund it – having had previous experience of setting up a hospice charity in Hertfordshire. Andrew’s first task was to form a board of Trustees. He explained: “I approached Michael Falcon who had been the Chairman of Norwich Union, which had supported the trial air ambulance service and Richard King, who had been on the board of Addenbrooke’s. After an introduction from the then Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk I asked David Barker to be our fourth Trustee. We set up the charity but in those early days, fundraising for something that didn’t yet exist wasn’t very easy.” The appeal to fund an East Anglian Air Ambulance service, which at that time would cover just Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk was launched in the summer of 2000 and by the end of that year enough money had been raised to fly on one day a week - a Friday. One of the earliest sponsors was the Automobile Association (AA). In the late 1990s it launched a three year sponsorship programme to fund the operational costs of a number of air ambulance charities across the UK. EAAA had only come into existence in the last year of the programme but as Andrew recalled: “We went to see the AA and explained that we had missed out on much of the sponsorship because we were a new charity, but they were very generous for that final

year and it was that funding that allowed us to progress from one day a week to a seven day a week operation so rapidly. It’s also the reason why our helicopter livery was yellow.” The charity was initially run largely by the four Trustees, to ensure that the money raised was spent only on the staffing costs associated with the front-line service. Later as the charity grew and developed, staff were taken on to manage the fundraising and charity operation. Andrew said: “We were all astonished at how fast it grew from those early days in 2000 when we wondered if it would work at all. We didn’t even have anywhere to meet and no offices at first. I was keen to ensure as much of the money raised as was possible, went directly into operating the service although in the last 15 years, as we have grown, we have recruited staff to run a professional and business-like charity.” Within the next five years the charity’s growth continued. It moved into a new head office at Norwich Airport and was able to upgrade the aging helicopter to a BK117 – an earlier model of the H145 aircraft we now fly. Later a campaign was launched to fund expansion into Bedfordshire and fly two helicopters to serve this bigger region. One of those whom Andrew recalled as being particularly supportive and key to where the organisation is today was Sir Michael Marshall of the Marshall Group which owns Cambridge Airport. Andrew said: “Sir Michael was attending an event at Norwich

Airport, during which he invited me to ring him if there was ever anything he could do to help the service. It was thanks to his generous support that we were able to make Cambridge Airport the permanent home of our second helicopter Anglia Two and where we will have our new Cambridge base.” Looking back over his Chairmanship Andrew said there has been no one achievement that particularly stands out but the whole experience has seen a number of different pinnacles reached. He added: “Those pinnacles just got bigger and bigger, such as flying five days a week to putting doctors on board both aircraft, to now being in a position to have two brand new helicopters.” Andrew plans to remain closely involved with the charity and will also work with the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust having re-joined its board as a non-executive director two years ago.

Patrick Peal (End L) with the original four Trustees (L-R) Andrew EgertonSmith, Richard King, David Barker and the late Michael Falcon.

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15th Anniversary Highlights of our anniversary year What a year 2015 has been. In celebrating our 15th anniversary EAAA has seen a number of milestones and highlights. Here are just some of them...

February:

June:

The Government announced funding for the Association of Air Ambulances, from the LIBOR fines levied on banks. It was distributed among 20 air ambulance charities and will fund training for 40 EAAA medics.

One of our signature events the ‘Ride for your lives’ cycling challenge moved to a new location in Peterborough and was a great success.

April: Our new H145 helicopter went into service at Cambridge. It was the first of its type to be delivered to the UK and only the 12th to leave the production line.

March: The Chancellor delivered his Budget speech and announced more LIBOR funding will be given to EAAA towards a second H145 aircraft. A few days later George Osborne visited our base at Norwich to see how the money would be spent.

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July: The Duke of Cambridge joined the EAAA team as a pilot aboard Anglia Two.

September: May: BBC Radio 4 broadcast ‘My Head’ – science communicator James Piercy presented the story of his recovery from a serious head injury in a car crash and featured the EAAA team who treated him.

Our first CPR-athon was deemed a huge success and nominated for an award (see page 10).

December: It’s anticipated our crew at Cambridge Airport will move into their new base (see page 6).

Anniversary

Tea@1500 To celebrate our anniversary we have been asking supporters to hold a fundraising tea party at 3pm (1500) and we’ve been overwhelmed with the wonderful ideas and tasty creations that you’ve told us about.

Two of our long-standing supporters in the South Cambridgeshire borders area have held fundraising tea parties. Dot Bentley-Wall raised more than £350 and Evelyn and David Lilley held their annual cream tea event in memory of their grandson Matthew, raising over £1,400.

Thank you to everyone who has organised or supported one of these events during 2015 and here are some of the latest pictures that you’ve sent us.

We are very grateful to the people of Wells next the Sea who took EAAA to their hearts from the start. Volunteer Tracey Catton, who runs the well-known ‘Neverendingstories’ shop in Staithe St, has run our collection boxes and acted as a focus for much fundraising throughout the years. Area Fundraising Manager Chris Donaldson organised a tea at Ollies Restaurant to thank supporters and owner Natasha Boulter kindly donated a large room and made some fantastic cakes. Residents, collection box holders, volunteers and supporters gathered to enjoy the tea party and find out the latest news about their favourite charity.

Our South Cambridgeshire fundraising team held a Tea @1500 party as part of their Lifesavers family fun day at Meldreth. There was a chance to meet the crew of Anglia Two as well as other members of the emergency services and we’re very grateful to all who came along and helped raise more than £2,000. EAAA flying doctor Pam Chrispin held a Tea @1500 party for her family, friends and colleagues, which included this fantastic spread of home-made cakes. We’d also like to thank Tesco at Flitwick in Bedfordshire for their ongoing support of EAAA, which has included providing sandwiches and cakes for our Tea @ 1500 celebrations.

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Fundraising events enable our two air ambulance crews to continue saving lives. If you’d like to get involved please visit www.eaaa.org.uk or contact your local office, see page 2.

Generous support from air show The annual Seething Charity Air Day in September was a superb success, raising a magnificent £4,000 for EAAA, which was match funded by Barclays Bank. This stunning picture of a C-47 Dakota above Anglia One was kindly sent to us by supporter Kathryn Comer. Planning is already underway for next year. Norfolk fundraiser Holly Noon said: “The day itself was absolutely fantastic, and we received so much support from everyone. It is so lovely to have the chance to meet all the committee and thank them for their hard work and support for EAAA.”

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Area Fundraising Manager Barbara McGee is pictured here with Jonathan Day of Streets Accountants who donated over £1,700 from their charity golf day which supported three air ambulance charities. Meanwhile Dunstable Downs Golf Club made us their charity of the year, donating over £6,000 and an annual golf day in memory of Tim Cox has this year raised over £500.

Luton shopping centre The Mall has given EAAA a further year of support and raised over £2,000 with a number of events. Pictured here is EAAA’s Nicola Perry (L) with The Mall’s Lavinia Douglass and one of the young winners of a children’s drawing competition organised in aid of the charity. The centre was also a venue for our CPR-athon in September.

Thank you ... More than 250 people attended a charity ball at Sennowe Park near Guist, Norfolk. It was organised after an air ambulance attended youngster Olivia Rogers and has raised over £15,000.

Suffolk-based haulage company Kersey Freight has pledged to support EAAA with our ‘Proud to Support’ logo on nine of its vehicles. It’s also raised considerable funds through various activities. Managing Director David Crawford said: “As a haulier we felt that the air ambulance was a cause that has close ties to the road network and the number of calls that it receives to road traffic accidents so we felt that supporting the charity was important.” Emneth Primary School in Wisbech have made EAAA their charity of the year and hope to hold one fundraising event each term. Critical Care Paramedic Neil Flowers recently visited the school and others in the local area to teach youngsters CPR skills.

Our Suffolk Pooh Sticks race took place in August at the Southwold Harbour and raised a fantastic £6,000. Thank you to everybody who entered a stick in the race, it was a great day and even Winnie the Pooh himself came along to help.

The Suffolk fundraising team would also like to thank everyone who took part in our Paws with a Cause charity dog walk at Glemham Hall just as we went to press in October.

Stamp Addicts and EAAA teamed up to host Stamperama at Flitwick in Bedfordshire. Refreshments were donated by Tesco and over £3,500 was raised. Great Yarmouth Festival of Bowls donated £5,600 after a committee member was airlifted by EAAA. Bedford and District Ladies’ Bowls League have given £300 and we received £200 from Connaught Bowls club who told us it was from ‘fines’ imposed for ‘misbehaving’ on their tour of Worthing! When the 5p carrier bag charge was introduced in October Roys of Wroxham kindly agreed to donate the money raised across their 13 branches to EAAA. Meanwhile Waitrose in St Neots have donated £470 from their token scheme. Supporter Steve Fishpool celebrated ‘Talk like a pirate day’ by imitating a pirate all day while working at Downing College, Cambridge, and raised over £180. EAAA was generously chosen as the beneficiary of the Flitton Potato Race in Bedfordshire. A donation of £2,000 was made including matched funding by Barclays Bank. Cambridgeshire County Show made a generous donation of nearly £2,000 and the Kimbolton Country Fayre has also given £1,000 from its profits.

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Events

February

Planning a fundraising event?

Mayor’s [Weds] Charity Evening

Call your local fundraising team (see page 2) for support and find a list of events at www.eaaa.org.uk/events

Cambridge As one of the chosen charities of the year of the current Mayor of Cambridge Robert Dryden, EAAA has been invited to hold an event at the city’s Guildhall in Market Square. We have teamed up with the Cambridge Rock Choir who are a group of more than 40 amateur contemporary singers who are promising an evening of great entertainment. Join us for an evening of pop, Motown and chart songs and help us raise vital funds. Tickets and further details are available from Meg Davies in our Melbourn office on 01763 262697

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March

[Sunday]

Songs of Praise Thursford, Norfolk

The Christmas Show at the Thursford Collection is the biggest in the country attracting up to 50 coach parties a day, but its annual Songs of Praise event is also an occasion not to be missed. Organised by the Central Norfolk Methodist Church the event features the Fakenham Town Band as well as the venue’s famous Wurlitzer organ and attracts an audience of more than 1,000. This year the event has very kindly chosen to support EAAA. For information about how to obtain tickets please contact our Norfolk fundraising team (see page 2).

March

24 EAAA Cocktail [Thursday] Party

St. Neots, Cambs

Our fabulous cocktail party at the Oast Lounge in St Neots last spring was such a success that we are holding it again this year. With tickets at just £15 you’ll join our fundraising team for a welcome cocktail and canapés as well as dancing to live music. To book your tickets contact the South Cambridgeshire fundraising office (see page 2).

June

Easter 26 [Sunday] Egg Hunt

12 Ride 2 [Sunday] Remember

Sandringham, Norfolk

As the chosen charity of the King’s Lynn Priory Rotary Club President this year we will be working with the Rotarians on Easter Saturday to hold a huge Easter Egg hunt at the Sandringham Estate. Children (and adults) will have to solve 17 clues to be in with a chance of winning a big Easter prize. There will be chocolate treats for all participants and it promised to be an EGG-cellent day out. We are very grateful to the Rotary Club who have raised thousands for EAAA over the years.

Stowmarket, Suffolk

It may be several months away, but bikers won’t want to miss our charity motorcycle ride out around some of the most scenic parts of Suffolk. As well as the 75 mile route the event, with a theme of remembering loved ones, will involve a fun day including a country fair, live bands and refreshments. Watch our website for full details over the coming months.

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Make a Difference VOLUNTEER FOCUS:

CAROL WATKINSON

Carol Watkinson didn’t expect to retire from work and become a volunteer at the EAAA office in Norwich. She and her husband Colin had talked about how they’d like to spend their time in retirement and had started making plans, but all that changed around four years ago when Colin passed away. Carol said: “By the time I reached retirement from a 42 year career, in 2015, I had to look at my life going forward and what I could do that was useful and meaningful.” I was still in a working mind set so a volunteer role in the office really suited me. I think some people struggle when they stop after a long time of full time working and regular volunteering is a good transition.

Carol at her desk with some recent donations. Why did you get involved with EAAA? I didn’t really know anything about the charity but my husband had loved flying and held a private pilot’s licence so helping the air ambulance seemed appropriate. My background is in IT and analysis so I was looking for a volunteering role where I could be of use and find new skills and challenges too. Because I had only just retired

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What do you do? I spend two days a week in the office at Norwich and my main role is to process the donations that we receive ‘In Memoriam.’ It’s not just about ensuring that the donations are recorded and banked but dealing with the funeral directors who have coordinated them and of course writing to thank people for thinking of EAAA in such difficult and sad circumstances. I’ve also been helping the Norfolk fundraising team with research for fundraising opportunities in the South of the county, which is where I live.

I had to look at my life going forward and what I could do that was useful and meaningful

What makes it rewarding? It’s rewarding for me personally because I am doing this through choice and I can see that I’m making a difference and the team are grateful for my help. But volunteering is a two-way street, they are helping me to be useful and of value. It’s taught me how vital this service is to the people it helps too. I attended a charity polo event in the summer at which the helicopter landed. I saw one of the players chatting to the doctor on board and it was an emotional moment, so I think he had experienced the air ambulance service first hand. That really brought it home how important this charity is. Would you recommend it to others? Volunteering is definitely something I would recommend. In this role I have so much variety – and I’d like to get more involved by giving talks and helping with events. It’s really all about putting as much time and effort into it as you want to. I’ve learned so much about the charity and the different ways in which people choose to raise money for it. It’s very humbling to see how much people care about this important lifesaving service.

Can you help?

There are all sorts of volunteering opportunities available at EAAA. We may have a need for administrative volunteers or require help at an event. Next spring we will need marshals and other volunteers at our obstacle race at Elveden, Only The Brave (see page 26). As well as the event at Elveden we would like to hear from anyone who can help us as a longer term volunteer in that part of our region. If you are based in Newmarket, Mildenhall, Soham or anywhere around the Suffolk/Cambridgeshire border and could help with events or collections please do get in touch. If you can offer some spare time and would like to find out more about helping us please email volunteer@eaaa.org.uk or contact your local fundraising office (see page 2).

Watch a Volunteer video on our website Visit www.eaaa.org.uk/ support-us/volunteer

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Lottery Lottery jackpot winners since our last edition For full details each week of the EAAA lottery winners and the current accumulator prize please visit our website www.eaaa.org.uk. The results are published there first and as soon as possible after the draw is made. They remain available on the site for approximately one month. In the last quarter the £1,000 jackpot has been won by: Aug 07 Mr D. Mayhew

Needham Mkt, Suffolk

Aug 14 Mrs M. Ransome

Kesgrave, Suffolk

The Accumulator Prize Since our last issue the accumulator prize has been won five times. September was a very busy month as in the first draw of the month Mrs L. Pritchard from Felixstowe in Suffolk won £2,500. A week later Mrs M. Rose from Stowmarket also in Suffolk won £500. Then on September 25 Mrs L. Gathercole, from the Ely area, won £1,000. On October 9 Mr J. Calver also from Ely, Cambs, won £1,000 and the following week David Bishop from Norwich won £500. Each week a total of £500 is added to the prize pot – up to a maximum of £25,000. When the prize is won the accumulator starts again the following week at £500. Details of how much it has reached each week and whether it has been won or not are posted in the Lottery section of our website.

Aug 21 Mrs M. Killingworth Thetford, Norfolk Aug 28 Mr J. Bethell Ipswich Sep 04 Mr A. Frazen

Great Yarmouth

Sep 11 Mrs S. Robertshaw Bedford Sep 18 Mr D. Chapman

Woodbridge, Suffolk

Sep 25 Mrs J. McAlister

Wymondham, Norfolk

Oct 02 Mr & Mrs Moffett

Attleborough, Norfolk

Oct 09 Mrs Hoogland

Denham, Suffolk

Oct 16 Mr L. Ward

Biggleswade, Beds

Oct 23 Mr B. Fearis

Boxford, Suffolk

Oct 30 Mr A. Jackson

Stalham, Norfolk

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Win prizes of £1,000, £100, £50, £25, £10, £5, £2 and £1 in our scratchcard game

What would you do? We are always delighted to hear from supporters who have won our jackpot or other lottery prizes. Recently Trevor and Mae Moffett (pictured) from Norfolk got in touch to thank us for their winning cheque which they said was ‘a nice surprise.’ And as well as our regular weekly prizes in the draw, plus the accumulator prize, there are now even more ways to support EAAA’s lifesaving service and possibly win a prize at the same time. Our new scratchcard game which was launched this summer is proving a hit. It has a top prize of £1,000 and there are additional prizes of £100, £50, £25, £10, £5, £2 and £1 – with cards costing £1 each. We’d still like to hear from you if you could be a scratchcard agent for us at your workplace or among your friends at a pub/club or even at a big social gathering? We can issue tickets on a sale or return basis for such a venture.

Alternatively you can buy scratchcards directly from us for yourself or to give as gifts to friends or even as wedding favours. The minimum amount we can sell is 10. Each card has two games on it. Cards may not be sold to or by people under the age of 16. To find out more about this exciting new fundraiser please give our lottery office a call on 01603 489400 or email us at lottery@eaaa.org.uk

Why not tell a friend about our Lottery? Visit www.eaaa.org.uk or call 01603 489400

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Lottery Thank you! The East Anglian Air Ambulance charity is enormously appreciative of the support from our loyal lottery players. Your weekly contribution really does make a difference and has helped to generate millions for the charity since it started. Without your continued support, it would be very difficult for us to maintain the service we currently provide. However, please don’t forget to let us know if you move house, we send our winning cheques through the post each week so it’s vital that we have an up to date address for our players. If you would like to help us save money by reading the magazine on our website or via an app please visit the Anglia Lift Off page on our website where you’ll find full details of how to do so.

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About our lottery Supporting the East Anglian Air Ambulance lottery is one of the easiest and most sustainable ways to keep us flying and saving lives. There are 18 main cash prizes including a jackpot of £1,000 which is won every week. We also have an accumulator prize which rises by £500 per week. The maximum it can reach is £25,000 and we have had several of our supporters win significant sums. Everyone who plays the lottery is automatically entered into the accumulator draw.

How does it work? Once we receive your completed membership application we enter your details onto our lottery system. You’ll be sent a letter and membership card with details of your lucky number. Each Friday the winners are randomly selected from all current paying members.

How much does it cost? Each ‘chance’ in our lottery costs £1 and you can have more than one ‘chance’ each week if you wish.

How do I claim my prize? There is no need to make a claim as we automatically send out all the winners’ cheques by 1st class post on Friday afternoons. A list of winners can be found on our website www.eaaa.org.uk.

How do I join? Choose one of these three simple ways to take part in our lottery:

Fill in a form

Complete this application form, cut it out and send it back to us at the address printed at the bottom of the page. If you are paying by cheque, don’t forget to send that too.

Online

By phone

If you would prefer to speak to someone or are buying membership as a gift for someone else then please give our lottery team a call on 01603 489400 and they will be happy to help. If you are reading this edition of Anglia Lift Off because you are already a member of our lottery then when you have finished it, why not pass it on to someone else who might like to find out more about supporting our work in this way? All players must be over the age of 16.

Lottery Membership application New Member Details (Please fill in your contact and payment details) Name Address

Postcode Tel For cheque payment:

No. of chances per week

No. of weeks (min 13) Total amount due £

For direct debit payments: (Please fill in the form below)

Instruction to your Bank or Building Society to pay by Direct Debit

Service User Number

Name and full postal address of your Bank or Building Society To: The Manager

422746 Bank/Building Society

Address Postcode Name(s) of Account Holder(s) Branch Sort Code Bank/Building Society Account No. Reference:

Instruction to your Bank or Building Society Please pay East Anglian Air Ambulance Direct Debits from the account detailed in this Instruction subject to the safeguards assured by the Direct Debit Guarantee. I understand that this Instruction may remain with East Anglian Air Ambulance and, if so, details will be passed electronically to my Bank/Building Society. Signature(s)

Date Banks and Building Societies may not accept Direct Debit Instructions for some types of account.

The sum of £ Monthly (£4.34) First payment on

(Minimum payment of £4.34 per chance per month)

Quarterly (£13) /

Half-yearly (£26)

Yearly (£52)

and thereafter until further notice.

Please return your completed membership application form (with cheque made payable to Friends of East Anglian Air Ambulance) to: Friends of East Anglian Air Ambulance, Hangar E, Norwich Airport, Gambling Close, Norwich NR6 6EG Members must be aged 16 years or over, please tick this box to confirm Each chance costs £1 per week. All the data we hold is gathered and managed in strict accordance with the Data Protection Act (1998). We will not disclose any information supplied by you to any third party. We may contact you occasionally with information about other aspects of our work. If you would prefer not to receive these mailings please tick this box

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EAAA challenge events Every year EAAA organises its own challenge events as well as offering official fundraising places in a number of others. Of course in addition to this there are many people who choose to fundraise for us with their own challenges – see the following pages for some of these. But if you’d like to get involved in one of our challenges you’ll find all the details you’ll need here.

Only The Brave Places are starting to fill up for our first ever Obstacle race ‘Only The Brave’ on March 20, a tough and muddy challenge in the stunning setting of the Elveden Estate near Thetford. Only The Brave is inspired by EAAA pilots, doctors, patients, and families. They amaze us because they overcome physical and emotional obstacles every single day. They tell us that ‘it’s not the obstacles you face, but the way you deal with them’ that counts. You’ll need the same attitude to complete Only The Brave. The race will offer a five mile course and for the really brave there’s a 10 mile route as well. Both will involve team work, overcoming your fears and of course more mud than you can possibly imagine as you negotiate all the challenging obstacles. Register before Saturday January 9 and tweet us @EastAngliAirAmb using #OnlyTheBrave to receive a free special edition sweatband!

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Among those who have already signed up are a number of EAAA staff, including our Chief Executive Patrick Peal, and former patients. Ana Casanova has already raised more than £1,400 by running in the Norwich £10k race but has signed up for Only The Brave with a view to raising even more. Ana was inspired to fundraise after her son Pepe (pictured here with her) was treated by the air ambulance clinicians when he was just five months old. Pepe had undiagnosed Type 1 Diabetes and fell unconscious at their home. He was treated by EAAA doctor Daniel Kornhall and Critical Care Paramedic Andy Downes who then accompanied Pepe and Ana to hospital by road. Ana signed up to Only The Brave after visiting Norwich Airport with Pepe to thank the air ambulance medics for saving his life.

London to Paris Bike Ride

If you would like to take part too – or perhaps buy entry into the race as a Christmas present for someone - then please visit the event website www.onlythebraveraces.co.uk. There is no minimum level for sponsorship. Teams can be made up of groups of friends or work colleagues. If you don’t want to take part yourself but would like to support the event we will need a number of volunteers on the day. Please get in touch with us if you would like to help by contacting sarah.hurren@eaaa.org.uk.

Ana was inspired to fundraise after her son Pepe was treated by the air ambulance

Whether you’re a keen cyclist or haven’t taken your bike out of the shed in months this EAAA challenge will cater for all abilities as well as giving you the chance to watch the finale of the Tour de France from under the Eiffel Tower. Starting in London, the 299 mile, four day route will take you through glorious English countryside, to the ferry from Dover to Calais. Once in France, you’ll push on cycling along quiet French country lanes, through traditional market towns with views of the rolling green hills of northern France. Previous long distance cycling experience isn’t necessary as long as you are prepared to put in the training ahead of the event. The organisers cater for all levels of ability and this special cycling experience, combined with a fantastic support crew to look after you, means achieving something like this challenge is no longer a dream but a reality. Don’t worry about your luggage, water or food – it’s all taken care of – leaving you to just cycle and focus on your goal of reaching Paris. The pièce de résistance of this ride will be the spectacular view of the 324 metre Eiffel Tower, which marks the finish line. The event takes place from July 20-24 and there is a registration fee of £125. There are options to raise a minimum amount of sponsorship or self-fund the trip and just raise as much sponsorship as you can. To find out more visit the events section of our website or get in touch with Holly Lambert in our Norwich office (see page 2).

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Extreme Fundraising If you are taking part in an exciting challenge such as a parachute jump, trek, or cycle ride to support EAAA, please get in touch. We’ll give plenty of guidance to help you reach your fundraising target. Don’t forget to set up an online giving page and take advantage of social media too. Contact details for your area fundraising office are on page 2.

Founder’s daughter takes Archdeacon’s Charge prize More than 500 people walked, jogged or ran in this year’s annual Archdeacon’s Charge event which benefits EAAA and churches in Norfolk. It was started in 2010 by the Archdeacon of Lynn, the Venerable John Ashe after his wife Shelagh was airlifted following a road accident.

His daughter Lucy, who helped to set up the event, was the fastest lady on the 10 mile course this year and is pictured receiving her prize from the Right Reverend Graham James, Bishop of Norwich. This year’s event was held at Houghton Hall, and generously hosted by The Marquess of Cholmondeley and Lady Rose. More than £5,500 was raised for EAAA. Next year the event will be held at Sandringham with the kind permission of Her Majesty The Queen.

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London Calling

Thousands of runners across the UK and beyond are now committed to serious training for next spring’s Virgin Money London Marathon. If you have a place in the event and have been inspired by the stories you’ve read in this issue please consider setting up a sponsorship page for EAAA. We will also have a number of people who’ll be taking part with one of the charity’s Gold Bond places and will have more details about them and why they have chosen to support us in the next issue.

Children’s airlifts inspire Uncle and Aunt to raise funds When Ashley Penn’s three-day old nephew Sam developed breathing difficulties because of an undetected medical condition the EAAA team got him to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in under 10 minutes. The baby had emergency surgery and has now made a good recovery.

As a thank you to the crew who helped save Sam, Ashley, from Royston, undertook the Three Peaks challenge, which involves tackling Snowden, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis. He’s raised almost £2,000 through the challenge.

Extreme

Thanks to…

…Cambridge Airport worker Lawrence O’Neill who undertook six parachute jumps for EAAA raising over £460. Lawrence said: “Every morning I hear the whirr of rotors and smell the burn of fuel as they test the engines of the helicopter. It’s an important machine that we all hope we will never need but we are glad it’s on standby.” …Rotary Club of Beccles for their annual Cycle for Life event which this year raised £4,200 for EAAA. They have also generously pledged to support the charity again next year.

Meanwhile, Tara Reeves from Cowlinge near Newmarket had a similar idea after her young niece and nephew were both airlifted to hospital following a head-on road collision earlier this year. The collision had been so serious that two air ambulances were called to the scene but both children have now made a good recovery. Tara undertook a 50k cycle ride as part of an annual charity cycling event that took place in Bury St Edmunds. She raised funds for the local hospice as well as donating £150 to EAAA.

Thinking of doing an extreme fundraiser? Visit www.eaaa.org.uk or call 0845 066 9999

…The organisers and participants of Lap of Anglia 2015, which has raised over £14,000 from this year’s epic 400 mile ride. The total for the last three years is now well in excess of £30,000.00. Damien Cross, from King’s Lynn, who organises the entire event, was nominated by the charity for the Archant ‘Stars of Norfolk’ awards. …The Great Blakenham cycle speedway club in Suffolk and all who supported their Jim Peck memorial event, which raised over £900.

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Recycling can be a great way to help EAAA. Although we don’t operate any charity shops for recycling unwanted goods there is still a lot that you can do to help.

Most of our fundraising offices collect items that can be recycled – these range from ink toner cartridges from printers to old mobile phones and stamps. In our South Cambridgeshire office, fundraising intern Megan Hunter (pictured) has been overwhelmed by the quantity of stamps our supporters donate. Please keep them coming and stamps can be sent or hand-delivered to any of our regional offices – addresses are on page 2. Like many charities we work with a partner organisation to collect unwanted clothing in bags that are delivered doorto-door. If a bag is delivered to you and you want to check that it is genuine before donating there are a number of ways that you can do this. The only company authorised to carry out collections like this on our behalf is World UK Trading Ltd. If they are collecting in your area they will have a licence to do so from the local council. Details of these may be available on the council’s website together with the dates that the licence applies to. Bags for EAAA from World UK Trading Ltd will have our details printed on them, including our charity number, as well as World UK Trading Ltd’s address and phone number. As the company also works with other air ambulance charities you may find that our details are on a leaflet attached to a generic bag. If you are in any doubt at all, please get in touch with us. If your bag is not collected on the given day, please contact World UK Trading Ltd.

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how to help us

All the data is gathered and managed in strict accordance with the Data Protection Act (1998). We will not disclose any information supplied by you to any third party. We may contact you occasionally with information about other aspects of our work. If you would prefer not to receive these mailing please tick here

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Add 20p to every £1 you donate at no extra cost to you by ticking this box and signing below. This will enable us to claim GiftAid. I am a UK taxpayer and would like the East Anglian Air Ambulance to reclaim the tax on the enclosed gift and all gifts of money that I have made in the past 4 years and all future gifts of money that I make from the date of this declaration.

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In Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire our fundraisers work with an organisation called Cash4Coins to collect unwanted foreign currency. If you have ever come home from holiday with some loose change, thinking you might use it the next time you go abroad, but in fact it simply ends up in the back of a drawer then why not donate it to EAAA? You may see our collection boxes (pictured) around the region including in local banks, but you can also contact one of our fundraising teams to discuss donating any unwanted foreign currency.

Name

In Norfolk we have been generously supported for a number of years by local business C&C Recycling. The company demonstrates that it is ‘Proud to Support EAAA’ on its vehicles. Area Fundraising Manager Holly Lambert said: “Carl is always helpful and on call to collect our recycling, and regularly donates a percentage of his recycling profits to EAAA.”

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There are many ways in which you can support us, please help by ticking the boxes which interest you and completing your contact details. Then simply return the form to: FREEPOST EAAA

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