The Filton-based Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) has announced that it is the chosen official charity partner for the 2013 Bristol International Kite Festival.
The charity, providers of an air ambulance service for the 2.1m people of the region, including Bristol and Bath, was also supported by the festival in 2011. This year’s festival takes place on Saturday 31st August and Sunday 1st September 2013 at Ashton Court Estate in Bristol.
GWAAC is currently trying to raise £250,000 of additional funds for a new Eurocopter EC 135 helicopter in order to replace the ageing Bölkow 105 model that it currently uses as part of a campaign called ‘Movin’ on Up’. The charity has currently raised 70% of the total funds needed, and a new helicopter would attend to patients four minutes faster, would allow a mother and child to fly to hospital together and would allow more space for the patient, equipment and mid-air treatment.
The charity’s helicopter will on display and will be fully operational from the site during the two day event. The work of the charity will also feature in the main arena during the festival and visitors will have the opportunity to meet the crew and charity staff and find out about fundraising.
Patricia Gaitan, Fundraising Manager for GWAAC, said:
“We are delighted to once again be chosen as the official charity partner for this year’s Bristol International Kite Festival.”
“This event marks the start of a month of key fundraising activity for the charity, which culminates in National Air Ambulance Week at the end of September, and we are looking forward to sharing the importance of the work that we do with visitors to the event – their support will help to keep our air ambulance flying.”
Avril Baker, Kite Festival Organiser, said:
“We are really proud to be supporting Great Western Air Ambulance Charity for the third year. At our last festival in 2011 the helicopter wowed the crowds as it flew in and out of Ashton Court and visitors really enjoyed looking round the aircraft and meeting some of the dedicated crew and the charity team who do such a fantastic job.”
“We hope that through the generosity of visitors to the Kite Festival we can help the charity raise some of the vital funds they need to replace the current helicopter so that the air ambulance can continue to fly, save lives and provide an even better service to people in our area who need emergency care and help.”
To find out more about the Kite Festival, visit www.kite-festival.org.uk
