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DEA Group make vital donation to lifesaving children’s charity

DEA Group make vital donation to lifesaving children’s charity

The DEA Group (DEA), based at Gamston Airport, have welcomed the Children’s Air Ambulance (TCAA) charity to its new airbase with a generous donation of £500.00 – helping to support the vital missions of the service in saving more young lives.

DEA is a world leading specialist technology-led provider of complex aerial data acquisition services. A pioneer in airborne data gathering, DEA uses ground-breaking techniques and the most advanced and innovative technologies in the industry, and the wonderful team there have now begun supporting the vital work of TCAA.

In April 2023, the Children’s Air Ambulance charity landed at its new designated airbase at Thatcham Research’s Gamston vehicle testing facility and airfield in Nottinghamshire where it activates its lifesaving missions from.

The national service is changing the face of paediatric and neonatal care through the high-speed transfer of critically ill babies and children, flying them from one hospital to another for specialist care. The charity works alongside 11 NHS paediatric retrieval teams across the UK, providing support to the NHS, free of charge.

Each mission costs an average of £3,500 and is funded solely by generous public donations, as it undertakes patient transfers four times faster than the same journey via road.

The charity currently flies two new helicopters; one is out of Gamston Airport, and the other is based at London Oxford Airport to serve the south of England.

“It is a privilege to share the airfield with the Children’s Air Ambulance and have the opportunity to fundraise for this vital service. We have enjoyed getting to know the team and look forward to building a fantastic relationship as neighbours here at Gamston,” said Karla Cooper, Facilities Coordinator for DEA Group.

Alfie Daly, TCAA Head of Operations, said: “We are so pleased to be operating our vital service from our new base at Gamston Airport and it is amazing to have already received support from the companies based here.”

“Everyone at TCAA is grateful to DEA Group for welcoming us with this vital donation as without support like this we wouldn’t be able to continue our lifesaving missions for critically ill babies and children across the UK.”

Coinciding with its 10th anniversary, the charity has just launched its Superhero Challenge this summer until 23 July and is encouraging the local community to take part and have fun whilst raising money individually or with family, friends, school, or workplace.

To get involved please visit: Be Our Superhero – The Air Ambulance Service

To find out more about the charity please visit www.childrensairambulance.org.uk or call 0300 3045 999.