£12,000 for the North West Air Ambulance Service

Warren Billington (Paramedic), Derek Thornhill (APGM), Christine Batley (Paramedic) and Alison Whittaker-Stewart (Regional Fundraiser)

Somewhere is England and Wales an Air Ambulance takes off roughly every ten minutes, flying a total of approximately 20, 000 missions every year and costing millions of pounds.
The money to fund this important work is met almost entirely by donations from organisations like the Freemasons’ Grand Charity and the public.

The North West Air Ambulance Charity flies lifesaving missions throughout the entire North West region seven days a week, 365 days a year. Their life-saving service covers 5,500 square miles and a residential population of almost eight million people. It costs well over £4 million each year to keep this vital service operational and saving lives yet they receive minimal central government finance or support from the National Lottery.

The speed with which the ambulances are able to respond to emergencies and transport patients to hospital greatly improves the survival chances of individuals involved in serious road traffic collisions, medical emergencies and other incidents, 365 days of the year. North West Air Ambulances now have two aircraft, based at Blackpool and Barton Airports. Both helicopters have a maximum flying time of ten minutes to the nearest appropriate hospital from any location in the region and it is this speed with which medical care can be delivered that is crucial (in the worst scenarios road ambulances can take up to an hour). It is recognised that by receiving treatment at the scene and arriving at hospital within the ‘Golden Hour’, the patient’s chances of survival and speed of recovery are dramatically improved. The NWAA ensures a very high standard of care is met, whilst overcoming the problem of distance, congestion, accessing most areas of the North West promptly, in turn bringing highly qualified paramedics and sophisticated equipment to the patient. All medical crew are highly trained paramedics who have received specialist additional training that allows them to take to the air.

This year the Freemasons’ Grand Charity has given every Province and Metropolitan Grand Lodge £4,000 to give to an Air Ambulance (or equivalent) service of their choice and presentations are currently taking place around the country. Cheshire, East and West Lancashire came together again today at Blackpool Airport to donate their combined cheques totalling £12,000 to the North West Air Ambulance.

Leon Tax (W Lancs.), Eric McConnell (Ches.) and Derek Thornhill (E. Lancs) with paramedics Christine Batley and Warren Billington

The Freemasons' Grand Charity has supported air ambulance charities in the delivery of their potentially life-saving services for the last 4 to 5 years. In that time £951,000 has been donated to what is considered the busiest voluntary emergency service in the country. In 2010 Freemasons locally have donated in excess of £75,000 to the North West Air Ambulance Service.

Speaking about today’s donation Derek Thornhill, Assistant Provincial Grand Master from East Lancashire said, “Air Ambulances are vital to ensure people get the medical or surgical help they need as quickly as possible. For those in life threatening situations this can dramatically improve their chance of survival. East Lancashire Masons and the Freemasons’ Grand Charity are delighted to once again be supporting North West Air Ambulance and contributing to the continued provision of this excellent service”.

In response Alison Whittaker-Stewart, East Lancashire Regional Fundraiser of the North West Air Ambulance Service said. “Without the support of Freemasons and similar donors we just would not be flying the way we do. I cannot praise the Freemasons enough for this generous support. Hardly a week goes by without a cheque coming our way from one of the Lodges in the North West and then there is this magnificent donation. It is donations like this that keeps us flying and saving lives”

Shortly after we made our presentations the emergency telephone rang and the team hastened away to attend a road traffic accident in the Lake District. We watched as the aircraft swiftly rose and disappeared into the distance. Right Click to Download the video HERE or play it below:

Find out more about the Air Ambulance Service and how you can help HERE

Visit The Freemasons’ Grand Charity’s website HERE