999 air crew given £2k lift from building society

HEART LINK TO BENEFIT FROM NEXT ROUND OF FUND-RAISING

A BUILDING Society has successfully raised over £2,000 for its charity of the year, the air ambulance.

Over the course of the financial year, esbs, or Earl Shilton Building Society, has organised a number of fund-raising events, from raffles to dress-up days, for the SOS crew, who are entirely dependent on voluntary donations.

Vicky Evans, community fundraising executive at the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance, said: “We are incredibly grateful for esbs’s generous support.

“This donation ensures we can keep our helicopters and cars stocked with vital equipment and continue running this life-saving service.”

Heart Link (East Midlands Heart Care Association) has been selected as esbs’s next charity of the year, for 2020/21, for its personal connection to Jodie Maguire, compliance assistant at the Society.

Jodie said: “My niece Ellie passed away from a heart attack two weeks before Christmas last year, one week before her baby sister Evelyn was born. She was only 13, and we had no idea she had any issues with her heart so it came as a huge shock to us.

“After her passing, my family and friends raised some money for Heart Link and I am really happy that esbs has also decided to support this amazing charity so I can keep my niece’s memory alive through all the fund-raising we do, and more families can get the help and support that they need and deserve.”

2021 marks the 40th anniversary of Heart Link, which was established in 1981 as a support group for parents and families who had a child suffering from a heart defect.

Since then, they’ve become increasingly committed to improving facilities for their young patients, their families and providing much needed valuable medical equipment at Leicester’s Glenfield Hospital.

Paul Tilley, chief executive of esbs, said: “Our colleagues and customers make donations like this possible, and I’m very proud of their continued enthusiasm. We value being part of our community which is why it’s important for us to back local charities that have made a difference to our members and colleagues, so are delighted to contribute to Jodie’s efforts in supporting Heart Link.”

Esbs branches are in The Hollow, Earl Shilton, or Malt Mill Bank, Barwell.