A CARING eight-year-old schoolboy has raised an incredible £285 for the Wales Air Ambulance after making and selling homemade bid boxes in aid of the Charity. Toby George has a keen interest in the Wales Air Ambulance and visits the base regularly with his
father Nick and grandfather Mick. Toby, a pupil at Abermule Primary School, started making the bird boxes at the beginning of the year and was delighted to visit the base to present the medics and staff with a cheque. Whilst at the airbase Toby, who brought along one of his masterpieces, was delighted to sell the bird box to one of the Wales Air Ambulance’s doctors for a £10 donation.
His proud dad Nick said: “I’m ecstatic that he wanted to do charity work for something he loves, we visit the airport most weekends, so the fact he wanted to give something back on his own accord made me a very proud father. We have framed his certificate from the Wales Air Ambulance for his bedroom wall. I’m incredibly proud of what he’s achieved. He’s busy thinking about what else he can
do to raise money for the rest of the year.”
The air ambulance service in Wales is delivered via a unique Third Sector and Public Sector partnership. The Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) supplies highly skilled NHS consultants and critical care practitioners who work on board the Charity’s vehicles. Wales Air Ambulance is consultant-led, taking hospital-standard treatments to the patient and, if required, transferring them directly to the most appropriate hospital for their illness or injury. For the patient, this can mean hours saved when compared to standard care and is proven to greatly improve survival and early recovery. The Wales Air Ambulance needs to raise £11.2 million pounds every year to keep its helicopters in the air and its rapid response vehicles on the road.
Kate Thomas, Wales Air Ambulance Regional Fundraising Manager, was delighted to have met Toby, Nick and Mick during the recent cheque presentation at the airbase. She said: “Toby has spent many months making wonderful homemade bird boxes and they are
fantastic. One of our doctors was delighted to purchase one of Toby’s masterpieces. Thank you so much to Toby, for not only creating wonderful bird boxes but for making them in aid of our lifesaving charity. As well as supporting our charity his bird boxes will provide wonderful homes for birds in the area.”
“The Charity needs to raise £11.2 million every year to enable us to provide a 24-hour service, seven days a week throughout Wales. Donations, like Toby’s, will help us to ensure that the people of Wales have the best care when they need it most, whether that’s by air or road. Your support is appreciated and it was lovely to meet you and your family.
