Northwich craft centre helps charity take to the air (From Northwich Guardian)

Northwich craft centre helps charity take to the air

9:00am Sunday 17th February 2013 in News

A NORTHWICH craft centre has helped the Children’s Air Ambulance take to the air with a year of phenomenal fundraising.

Blakemere Craft Centre raised £2,500 for the charity through collections and events, including a Countryside Fair last summer, after it was named its charity of the year for 2011/12.

The charity is raising funds to get its helicopter equipped and prepared to provide a vital service transporting tiny patients and expert medical teams around the country.

“It has been a pleasure to work with the Children’s Air Ambulance and I am very pleased we have been able to raise so much money,” said Blakemere’s manager Ginny Brooks-White.

“I look forward to seeing the air ambulance get off the ground.”

The services, based at Coventry Airport, could chopper a sick child to the centre of London from Chester in less than 50 minutes, a journey that would take more than three and a half hours by land.

David Reeves, Cheshire fundraising manager for the charity, said: “The support of Blakemere and its visitors throughout the year has been phenomenal.

“It’s been part of a huge fundraising effort to get our helicopter ready for specialist paediatric transfers in spring this year. Thank you so much for your support.”

Blakemere is currently searching for a charity of the year for 2013/14.

If you would like to apply contact the Blakemere office by emailing info@visitblakemere.co.uk or calling 01606 883261.