Charity air ambulance relies on our giving

Sir

ay I in this, National Air Ambu-M lance Week (September 19 to 25), highlight the amazing work being carried out by Scotland’s only charityfunded helicopter air ambulance.

Scotland is justifiably proud of its two government-funded helicopter air ambulances – but a similar third resource proving vital to the people of Scotland relies totally on members of the public to keep it in the air.

Now in its fourth year, Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) has flown the equivalent of more than four times round the world, taking expert paramedic aid to the scene of accidents and emergencies across the whole of the country and our many islands and flying patients onwards to hospitals.

We have responded to well over 1,220 emergency call- outs from Sanday in the Orkney Isles and south to Gatehouse of Fleet – and even to communities across the English border.

Our vital frontline service, headed up by a team of highly experienced and expert pilots and paramedics, has saved many lives and improved many more. We have touched the lives of families, friends, colleagues and communities of those we attend.

SCAA has attracted invaluable backing from the people of Scotland – it is your helicopter – and we are hugely appreciative of the ongoing support we receive from those already engaged with the charity.

No- one likes to think they or their loved ones will ever need the services of SCAA, but we all like to know it’s there if we do.

Please help to ensure that SCAA can fly into the future to continue our amazing work for everyone – whenever and wherever the need is greatest – by considering a donation in National Air Ambulance Week.

Your giving is the only fuel we fly on. You might need our help tomorrow, but we need your help today.

Please donate now by texting with your amount to SCAA16 or find out more about Scotland’s airborne lifesavers by visiting www.scca.org.uk .

Thank you on behalf of all those whose lives we will touch in the future. David Craig, Chief executive, Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance, Perth Airport.