Acorn Group digs deep for fund

"As soon as we saw about it in the paper we had a very short committee meeting, put it to the members, and it was unanimous that we would send £500 from our funds," said founder chairman Mrs June Padgett.

The members wanted to support a local charity, she said. And, although she said she did not know of any member who had had direct experience of the air ambulance helicopter, one or two of the men in particular had had little heart scares.

She added: "Most of us have, not perhaps a relative, but a friend of a friend or somebody we know for whom it's been very beneficial."

Mrs Padgett said that, because of its Acorn name, some people thought that the group was a children's group.

"We meet in the lecture room at Christ Church in Oswestry. We are a group of people who do not work, and we meet every Thursday morning and have a speaker every week."

The Shropshire Star's Flying Doctor Appeal aims to raise £70,000 to fund a Flying Doctor to join the crew of the Shropshire-based air ambulance helicopter, taking its on-board medical skills and capabilities to a new high level.

There are various lifesaving procedures that the air ambulance paramedics are not allowed to do, and a Flying Doctor on the scene of emergencies could make all the difference.

* Read our appeal stories here and print off a donation form 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