The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)

Car dealership donates SUV to air ambulance

Charity: Vehicle ‘will free up funds for front line’

- BY REBEKAH MCVEY

A north-east garage has donated a brand new SUV to a life-saving air ambulance crew after learning of the team’s “genuinely astonishin­g” work.

Peterhead dealership Gillanders Motors is backing Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) after the organisati­on recently launched an Aberdeen-based helicopter to respond to accidents and emergencie­s around the region.

The white MG HS automatic now sports the charity’s branding and is being used at SCAA’s new base in Dyce.

The vehicle will be used to assist the charity in a wide variety of tasks locally and across the country.

SCAA already had one aircraft in Perth and launched Helimed 79 this year to double its capacity to help out people in lifeor-death situations.

Sales manager at Gillanders, Mark Stevenson, said: “The addition of a locallybas­ed Helimed will save lives, particular­ly given the rural geography of Aberdeensh­ire. SCAA exists to help those in the worst of times. The crews, medics, volunteers and support staff at SCAA do an incredible job and we are proud to support such a fantastic cause.

“The costs of operating the charity are significan­t and removing the need to purchase even one vehicle will release more funding to the front line operation.”

The initial support was for one vehicle for one year, however, discussion­s are being held which could lead to that term being extended and the possibilit­y of providing additional motors where required.

SCAA’s director of fundraisin­g and communicat­ions Nick Harvey said: “Having a vehicle based at our Aberdeen base will enable us to fulfil a wide variety of charity and fundraisin­g demands.

“It’s a fantastic gesture and we can’t thank them enough for their support and friendship to SCAA and our front line emergency role.”

Last month the charity received a £6 million share of funding from the UK Government to meet increased and changing demand due to Covid-19.

 ??  ?? ON THE MOVE: The white MG HS automatic sports the SCAA branding and is being used at the new base in Dyce
ON THE MOVE: The white MG HS automatic sports the SCAA branding and is being used at the new base in Dyce

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