Cambridge boy’s design places runner-up at national charity competition

A Cambridgeshire boy’s design has placed runner-up at a nationwide competition to design an official mascot for the Children’s Air Ambulance (TCAA).

Last year, the national children’s charity launched a competition to find the perfect mascot for #TheCew- their club for children and young people – and with over 500 entries from across the country, eleven-year-old Tristan Davis’ design was picked as the runner-up.

The Cambridge schoolboy’s design of a brilliant black and white penguin dressed as a pilot will feature as the official sidekick of the charity’s main mascot, Blade the bear.

“I never thought I would ever get a place in this competition, so I was really pleased when I was chosen as runner-up,” says Tristan.

“Penguins are my favourite animal and I also love aviation. Penguins can’t fly so I had the idea to create a penguin that could fly to help people – this was the first thing that came to my mind for a mascot, so it made me create Peggy the Penguin,” he adds.

The Children’s Air Ambulance – operated by The Air Ambulance Service – is a national service which 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.

Two clinically designed helicopters, based at Doncaster and Oxford, provide flying intensive care units and work with 10 NHS paediatric retrieval teams across the UK – If a child is too sick to fly, then the Children’s Air Ambulance can fly a specialist team directly to them.

All transfers of critically ill babies and children carry an inherent risk – the longer a child is out of the hospital, the greater that risk – but the aircraft’s ability to fly approximately four times faster than land ambulance minimises travel times and risk.

Not only will Tristan’s design be showcased across the charity, but he will also get to meet a TCAA pilot and helicopter when he visits one of the Children’s Air Ambulance bases, once lockdown restrictions ease.

Youth Development Manager for TCAA, Anoushka Brown says: “We are so happy to announce that Tristan is our runner-up, it was such a close competition, we think his design is brilliant and we are excited to see Peggy as Blade’s sidekick for #TheCrew.

As part of #TheCrew, children can learn about saving lives, helicopters, medicine, fundraising and how a charity works. The club offers advice and teaching on community work, volunteering, working as part of a team and supporting good causes – which form part of many school curriculums.

“It’s a fun club to get involved with and It is completely free to join and, once signed up, members will receive an awesome welcome pack,” adds Anoushka.

Incredibly proud of her son’s accomplishment for the national charity, Tristan’s mum Julie says: “I am delighted to hear that Tristan was chosen as runner-up in the competition.

“I had no idea he was taking part until he asked me to post off his entry form. It is no surprise that he has chosen to use a penguin as a hero as he adores them – along with a keen interest in planes and helicopters. As a family, we are especially pleased as the air ambulance charity has been a cause supported by my parents for many years.”

Anyone wishing to learn more about #TheCrew, or to sign up, click here.