Lions club help air medic charity

Lions clubs in Sussex were among 61 across the South East to raise funds for Air Ambulance Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS) to purchase a new rapid response vehicle for the life-saving charity.

The car will be used by KSS to provide its world-leading pre-hospital emergency medical care by road when circumstances such as bad weather prevent it from using helicopters.

Lions clubs organised a range of fundraising activities to support KSS including street collections, book stalls, sponsored walks and sponsored swims.

The group raised more than £35,000 to meet their fundraising goal of purchasing a Volvo XC90.

The vehicle has now been fitted with a blue light bar on the roof, additional blue lights, sirens and ‘Battenberg’ markings in KSS’s corporate colours which are also the reflective strips which make the car visible, especially at night.

The Volvo XC90 is one of four rapid response vehicles used by the charity and replaces one of their vehicles which was funded by the Lions in 2015.

It has upgraded brakes and suspension to accommodate the nature of high speed and long distance travel.

Howard Lee, Lions Clubs co-ordinator for the appeal, said: “We have fundraised for KSS for many years, partly because their geography coincides with ours but largely because of the invaluable role the charity plays in saving lives.

“Over the last eight years, we have raised more than £360,000 for KSS and we look forward to continuing our relationship with KSS in the future, helping them to save many more lives.”