“Your Christmas lights can help us save lives” is the new message from the EAAA as its “Lights for Lives Appeal” was launched on Monday. The idea is that supporters and others who provide festive displays on their houses at Christmas are being asked to provide collecting tins for the charity at the same time. “Bad weather and long dark mornings and evenings make our service particularly vital at this time of year,” said EAAA spokeswoman Mrs Rebecca George.
“The EAAA operates a 365-day life-saving service across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire. “It receives no government or National Lottery funding and has to raise ВЈ220,000 per month just to keep its state-of-the-art air ambulances flying and to provide the advanced medical equipment they carry.” This year has seen the charity extend its service. It has also taken on a second aircraft.
The first, Anglia One, now provides a dedicated service to Norfolk and Suffolk while Anglia Two, crewed by clinicians from emergency charity Magpas, provides the service for Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire. Executive director of EAAA , Mr Simon Gray, said: “More and more people enjoy decorating their houses and gardens with festive lights while others like to visit displays in their area.
“The great news is that many of our supporters already mount fantastic displays on our behalf and we always appreciate their efforts. “We are hoping that this year even more people from across the region will join them and turn their lights into life-saving funds for the air ambulance.” Those taking part in the appeal are also being given the chance of a draw prize a 15-minute pleasure flight for two in a helicopter from Norwich airport, donated by Norwich-based Sterling Aviation.