Your air ambulance needs you

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Kent Air Ambulance is appealing for volunteers to help with street collections throughout the county during Air Ambulance Week.

Members of the public are needed to carry out bucket collections in High Streets, supermarkets and shopping centres between 23^rd and 25^th September.

Although the charity has an army of registered volunteers, temporary helpers are being sought to help raise vital funds to go towards the £1.7m-a-year cost of keeping the helicopter flying.

They can be individuals, clubs, groups, societies or business organisations and they do not have to sign up or commit to further fundraising.

Volunteers Roger and Angela Bates, from Romney Marsh, have helped with street collections after he was airlifted by the helicopter following a fall at work in 2002.

He said: “We’ve been doing it for four years and we’re looking forward to helping again this year. It’s really well worth doing.

“A lot of people we talk to still do not realise the air ambulance exists but without them I would not be here and I enjoy raising money for them.”

Air Ambulance Week runs from 20^th to 27^th September and is extra special this year as the Marden-based helicopter celebrates its 20^th anniversary.

The aim of the fundraisers and their team of volunteers is to collect £20,000 to mark this magnificent milestone, beating last year’s total of £15,000.

Anyone interested in becoming a temporary volunteer is urged to call Amy Salter on 01622 833833.