We experienced a wave of support over the weekend of 13/14 June from retailers, local businesses, and members of the public, as our team and volunteers hit the streets to raise awareness of the Cambridge Air Base Appeal.
With the charity’s team participating in the Town & Country Fair on Parker’s Piece, shops across the city put on a yellow display of support, with staff creating colourful window dressings, wearing appeal t-shirts, putting up posters, and even selling yellow ice creams!
Participating businesses included BrewBoard, Byard Art, Cambridge Wine Merchants, Campkins, Downing Place Church, Fitzbillies, Grand Arcade, Jacks Gelato, Troon Clothing, Podarok, Ryder & Amies and Spoonstruck Ice Creams. While over at Parker’s Piece, there was a flyover by the Anglia Two helicopter, which is based in the city, at Cambridge Airport.
Two months ago, we launched an urgent fundraising appeal – calling on members of the public and businesses to help raise £8.2 million to relocate and build a new air base on the outskirts of Cambridge and protect the lifesaving care it delivers across the region. The impending closure of Cambridge Airport – home of one of our two operating bases – threatens to cut our lifesaving service in half, putting lives at risk. We have been given planning permission to build a new base on the outskirts of Fulbourn at Shardelowes Farm on Balsham Road – but now need to raise the money required to relocate and safeguard operations.
Stuart Wyle, Director of Fundraising and Supporters at East Anglian Air Ambulance, said: “Our fundraising appeal has got off to a great start, and we have been overwhelmed by the support we have received from people and businesses across Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. We would like to thank everyone who has donated, fundraised and championed our cause so far – including those that supported us this past weekend. Together, you are keeping our mission moving forward. However, we are still a very long way from our target and need more people to join us on this journey. Whether it’s making a donation, organising a fundraiser or spreading the word, every contribution helps bring us closer to a new air base, which will help save lives for many years to come.
Oliver Pugh, Founder, BrewBoard
“As a Cambridge-based brewery, we’re proud to be supporting the Cambridge Air Base Appeal. East Anglian Air Ambulance provides a vital service that is there for people during the most critical moments of their lives. Their work positively impacts communities across our region every day, and we’re delighted to play a small part in helping to raise awareness of the fundraising appeal. We’d encourage local businesses and residents alike to contribute to the charity if they can. Together, we can help ensure this lifesaving service has a base in Cambridge and is available for everyone who may need it in the future.”
Rhys Taylor, Social Media Manager, Campkins Cameras
“As a third-generation family-run business in the heart of Cambridge, Campkins Cameras has always been proud to support the local community that has supported us for generations. That is why we are delighted to be supporting East Anglian Air Ambulance and its Cambridge Air Base Appeal. Every day, the charity provides a vital lifesaving service across the East of England, delivering critical care to patients when every second counts. Their crews make an extraordinary difference to people and families facing some of the most difficult moments of their lives. The Cambridge Air Base Appeal is particularly important as East Anglian Air Ambulance works to create a new purpose-built base for its Cambridge operations. This investment will help ensure the charity can continue delivering the highest standard of emergency care across our region for many years to come.
As a local business, we recognise how important it is to support organisations that have such a direct impact on our community. We are honoured to play a small part in helping East Anglian Air Ambulance achieve its goal and secure the future of this essential service. We would encourage anyone who is able to support the appeal to consider making a donation. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps ensure that this incredible charity can continue saving lives across East Anglia.”
Jeremy Kay, Co-Owner, Podarok
“As independent shop owners in Cambridge, supporting our local community is incredibly important to us. East Anglian Air Ambulance provides a vital service for the people of Cambridge and across the region. Knowing that they rely heavily on charitable donations makes us even more committed to helping. By supporting East Anglian Air Ambulance, we are giving something back to a charity that makes a real difference to families and communities across East Anglia.”
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