Cheshire locals raise vital funds to support children’s charity

Helsby and Dunham Friendship Group in Cheshire have raised vital funds to support the Children’s Air Ambulance (TCAA) and their lifesaving missions for critically ill babies and children across the UK.

Helsby and Dunham Friendship Group are a group of friends who meet monthly for social activities and to support local charities and hospitals. The group is open to all, no matter your age or gender and together they choose a deserving charity to support with various events – and in 2023, they chose the worthy Children’s Air Ambulance.

During 2023 the group managed to raise a total of £398.05 by holding a charity presentation and taking donations on the day, an event to celebrate the King’s coronation, and a Christmas coffee morning.

“As a group we decide which charity to support and after hearing about the children’s charity and the vital service they provide, we decided they needed our support,” said Chrissie Sutton, the leader of the Helsby and Denham Friendship Group.

“They receive no government or National Lottery funding and rely entirely on donations to keep their service operational. We were incredibly proud to support the Children’s Air Ambulance and their lifesaving missions during 2023,” she added.

The Children’s Air Ambulance is changing the face of paediatric and neonatal care through the high-speed transfer of critically ill babies and children – flying them from local hospitals to specialist paediatric and neonatal treatment centres via the clinically designed helicopters which provide a flying intensive care unit for babies and children.

The charity works alongside 11 NHS Clinical Partner Teams across the UK, including North West & North Wales Paediatric Transport Service (NWTS), an NHS children’s intensive care transport team covering the north of Wales, the north-west of England and transfers from the Isle of Man.

Community Fundraising Executive for the charity, Kim Wright, said:

“We would like to thank everyone involved with the Helsby and Dunham Friendship Group for choosing to support our children’s charity and helping to raise awareness for our vital service.

“Without support from the local community and businesses, our high-speed transfers wouldn’t be able to continue. Every penny raised is helping to keep our helicopters operational and to keep hope alive for the little lives we fly,” she expressed.

To learn more, or to support the charity, please visit: www.childrensairambulance.org.uk or call 0300 3045 999.