Savers donate £40k to air ambulance
SAVERS have helped Leek United Building Society to make its single biggest ever donation to charity.
The building society, which has a branch on Chestergate, has donated £40,510.37 the County Air Ambulance Trust.
The sum was made possible thanks to the society’s ‘Air Ambulance Affinity Account’ – which allows savers to make donations to the charity based on interest on their account.
Paul Harris, director and company secretary of the County Air Ambulance Trust, said: “We are proud and enormously grateful to be teamed up with Leek United, who have been supporting us for many years now.
“We would ask people to open an Air Ambulance Trust Affinity Account, which will enable them to contribute to our support of air ambulance operational services whilst earning interest on their own savings.
“For every £100 saved, Leek United donates £1 to the Trust.”
The donation will go towards the County Air Ambulance Trust’s ‘Golden Hour’ Appeal, which funds vital air ambulance operational services and infrastructure projects across the Central and Avon regions.
The annual running costs of keeping three helicopters airborne and providing a lifesaving service in the Midlands is £7 million, and the Appeal’s title is a reference to the fact that in an emergency air- lift every second counts.
Kevin Wilson, Leek United’s chief executive said: “It is impossible to put a value on the life-saving service that the Air Ambulance provides, and we originally chose to support the Trust because it has the widest possible relevance and importance to all the communities we serve. We are, therefore, delighted to be able to continue our long-standing support of the County Air Ambulance Trust, along with the help of our Affinty Account savers.”