Urgent plea to help keep the Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance flying

The Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance has launched an urgent fundraising appeal as the charity anticipates losing up to £3m and the capacity to fly at night.

Chief executive Karen Jobling said the initial impact of coronavirus left no other option than to cancel fundraising activities and close its shops.

It therefore anticipates losing up to £3m in income as a result.

Night time missions have already been scaled back meaning the helicopter will not be making night missions at all as of May.

This move is due to some crew being called back to support the NHS, while some are self-isolating, unable to travel or have become ill.

The ambucopter continues to carry out life-saving missions every day but, along with a reducing service, there is concern over the impact of this significant income drop when normal service resumes.

Karen Jobling said: “In order to safeguard the charity moving forward and ensure we can provide a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service to our local communities, I’m reaching out to people in our communities who are able to make a donation so that we can continue to provide a life-saving service.

“We don’t know at the moment whether we are eligible for the funding government has announced for front line charities, what the criteria is or the timeframe in which funds could be accessed.

"We of course will be following this closely but we are in a period of great uncertainty for the air ambulance, so we are relying on donations more than ever to help keep us flying.

“We appreciate that this is a very difficult and challenging time and I hope people are keeping as safe and well as possible.”

Visit ambucopter.org.uk to donate or ring 01522 548469 and if you fancy a haircut, a fitness challenge or have an ambition to grow the tallest sunflower, visit the virtual fundraising page and #chooseyourchallenge to raise money.

Alternatively, text SAVELIVES to 70085 to donate £10.

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