Charity ambulance birthday

Sir,

Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) marked its seventh anniversary on May 22.

I look back with pride and gratitude on a service that has saved and improved thousands of lives and on the organisations, communities, businesses and individuals across Scotland who helped launch and sustain that service.

None of us could have foreseen the situation we find ourselves in, as we reach this landmark seventh birthday.

This is a challenging operational environment for our aircrew and an extremely difficult period for our fundraising teams as the restrictions are preventing all the events, talks and activities taking place which are so essential to help support the country's only charity-funded helicopter air ambulance service. It costs around £4 million each year to fund our Perth and Aberdeen-based helicopter air ambulances. Every penny needed to keep these two lifesavers in the air seven days a week, 365 days a year, is donated by the people of Scotland. We receive no statutory government funding.

Yet, as I reflect on how the Scottish public has risen to every request we have made of them over the past seven years, I feel confident they will not abandon ‘The People’s Helicopter’ at this particular time of need.

Please support SCAA if you can and help us celebrate the seventh anniversary of this lifesaving service - your service.

John Bullough, Chairman, Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance, Perth Airport.