Volunteering to Say Thank You to The Air Ambulance Service

Saying thank you is the theme of Volunteers’ Week (June 1 to 7) when charities and organisations celebrate the unpaid work done by millions of volunteers across the UK. But some individuals give up their free time to volunteer as their own thank you for what has been done for them.

Lawrence Brimm from Oadby

One such person is Lawrence Brimm (21) from Oadby, Leicester who was airlifted by Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance when he needed urgent medical treatment after he was seriously injured in a car accident.nnHe believes he owes his life to the charity that flew him to hospital after he sustained serious head injuries when his car crashed after he swerved to avoid hitting an animal in the road on the way back from a night out in Leicester.

“I want to give something back to the charity that saved my life. The doctors said that if I hadn’t got to the hospital as fast as I did I wouldn’t be walking and talking now, and might not be alive,” he says.

Lucky-to-be-alive, Lawrence is determined to carry on with his strict physiotherapy routine with the aim of eventually being able to walk unaided.

“Before the accident I played a lot of sport and studied sport at college. I want to get back into good shape. My ambition now is to run my own café,” he says

Ruth Wilkinson from Leicestershire

Ruth Wilkinson from Leicestershire who was airlifted by Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance when she needed urgent medical treatment after she was seriously injured in a car crash.

It took her six months to recover from the fractures she sustained in her skull, jaw and collar bone but as soon as she was well enough she started raising funds for and awareness of the charity in and around Leicestershire.nnRuth (36) has a busy career as a Probation Officer but she still finds time to give talks, attend cheque presentations and help at air ambulance events.nnIn recognition of her ten years commitment to volunteering she was chosen to represent the charity at a Buckingham Palace garden party in May 2018.

“Volunteering is my way of saying thank you. It is something I can do to repay the charity for what they did for me. I wanted to raise awareness of the services provided by the air ambulance and how it is there for everybody. Without it I might not have made a full recovery,” she says.

Dave Brocklehurst from Chesterfield

David Brocklehurst from Chesterfield who was airlifted by Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance when he needed urgent medical treatment after he slipped on icy rocks and sustained a head injury on the moors above Hathersage in the Peak District.nnThe skill of the pilot who landed the helicopter between the rocky outcrops, the care and medical attention provided by the paramedics and the speed at which he was flown to the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield made a lasting impression on David. He will never forget the experience and uses it as the basis of the talks he gives to local community groups in his role as a volunteer speaker for the charity.

Retired business trainer, David (72) was out with a dog walking group he runs within Chesterfield U3A when the accident happened.nnIt was a frosty day and they had stopped for a coffee when David slipped and hit his head on a boulder whilst taking a photograph of the group.

The appearance of a large lump on the side of his head worried the group’s first aider who phoned the emergency services.  Edale Mountain Rescue Team responded to the call and when they arrived at the scene they treated David and erected a shelter tent around him.n“I am very pleased to have the opportunity to give something back.

“The air ambulance is a wonderful service and there are so many real-life stories of people who wouldn’t be alive today if it wasn’t for DLRAA and The Children’s Air Ambulance. Being rescued by the air ambulance and subsequently meeting the people involved, learning about what happens at base and the cost of running the charity really opened my eyes and made me appreciate what a vital lifesaving service it provides.”

If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer with us, click here to see all of the opportunities we have available.