Holiday parks pledge their support for East Anglian Air Ambulance

3/2/2016

Norfolk holiday destinations Kelling Heath Holiday Park and Woodhill Park will be helping to save lives on the county’s roads thanks to a new charity partnership with East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA).

Staff at the two parks, which are run by family-owned firm Blue Sky Leisure, are hoping to raise thousands of pounds for EAAA over the next two years, following an official launch event at the charity’s Norwich Airport base. Donation tins will be placed around both parks, with various events also expected to generate funds, including plans for a joint float at both the Sheringham and Cromer carnivals later this year.

EAAA was unveiled as the parks’ new charity partner after employee representatives shortlisted three charities for a staff vote. Speaking after being given a guided tour around one of the charity’s two high-tech helicopters and meeting a number of the charity’s pilots and critical-care paramedics, Mark Durrant, Operations Manager at Kelling Heath, said: “We are incredibly proud to be supporting EAAA and look forward to raising as much money as we can for this amazing team of lifesavers. None of us would ever choose to be in a position where we need their help, but the fact they are there for us, our loved ones and our guests if we ever do, is incredibly comforting.”

Since its launch in 2000 East Anglian Air Ambulance has attended more than 16,000 lifesaving missions. It is a 365 day a year Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) serving the people of Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire. With a medical crew of highly trained critical-care paramedics and doctors, EAAA brings the emergency room to the patient, anywhere in East Anglia within 25 minutes.

EAAA receives no regular Government funding and relies solely on the generous donations of the local community to raise the £10.2 million needed to fund the service this year.EAAA is a vital service to those living in and visiting rural communities within East Anglia.

Norfolk Fundraising Officer, Sophie Emmanuel, said: “We are delighted to have been chosen by Kelling Heath and Woodhill Holiday Parks as their charity partner and look forward to some great fundraising!”

Kelling Heath and Woodhill Park raised a total of £12,000 for previous charity partner The Benjamin Foundation.

More information about East Anglian Air Ambulance and ways to support the charity can be found here www.eaaa.org.uk or by contacting sophie.emmanuel@eaaa.org.uk