Appeal off to a flying start
The Shropshire Star's Flying Doctor Appeal has smashed through the milestone fundraising figure of £7,000 - in little over a month since we launched the appeal.
The magnificent efforts of our readers mean that, although there's still a long way to go to reach our £70,000 target, we've made a flying start.
And, as more and more events towards the vital cause are organised bringing in extra cash, we're hoping that the fundraising momentum will accelerate.
Shropshire Star promotions manager Jackie Gaze said today: "We're indebted to everyone who has helped us reach the 10 per cent stage.
"But there's still a long way to go and if the Flying Doctor is to be airborne later this summer, we ask everyone to dig deep and come up with some ingenious fundraising ideas so that we can reach our target sooner rather than later."
The Flying Doctor Appeal aims to fund a flying doctor to join the crew of the Shropshire-based air ambulance, taking its on-board medical skills and capabilities to new heights.
Although the paramedics in the crew already do a wonderful job, there are potentially life-saving medical procedures which they are not allowed to do. The presence of a highly-skilled Flying Doctor at the scene of emergencies could make all the difference.
Our appeal is a specific, targeted fundraising effort on top of the general fundraising which keeps the air ambulance helicopter at RAF Cosford flying - it relies entirely on the generosity of the public.
Picture: Paramedics Tim Jones, left, from Bridgnorth and Jamie Roberts, from Telford, in front of the County Air Ambulance at Cosford.
* Read all about our appeal here and print off a donation form here so you can send us any cash you have raised.
* Have you got something planned to support our Flying Doctor Appeal? Then don't forget to let us know about it so we can highlight your effort. Drop a line to: Toby Neal, Shropshire Star, Ketley, Telford, Shropshire TF1 5HU, phone (01952) 241458, or e-mail tneal@shropshirestar.co.uk
