East Midlands DHL team raise over £100,000 to support lifesaving charity

Shirley Ramplin and her team at DHL East Midlands Airport have impressively raised over £100,000 to support the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance (DLRAA), helping to save more lives.

While working at DHL East Midlands Airport, Shirley began to raise money for the lifesaving DLRAA in 2008 with cake bakes, auctions and raffles. Due to the magnificent amount she raised, Shirley was nominated for DHL’s Got Heart global competition along with other colleagues across 114 countries.

DHL created an employee fundraising scheme called DHL’s Got Heart – a global competition celebrating DHL Express colleagues who give up their free time for good causes. This celebrates volunteering and making a difference in the world – from helping your neighbours, and volunteering in your community to supporting worthy causes and charities.

Fantastically, Shirley won the regional and national rounds and went through to the global round in Italy, where she was one of five staff chosen as a winner and awarded £25,000 to donate to her chosen charity.

The wonderful additional donation of £25,000 to the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance Service means more lives can continue to be saved by the vital pre-hospital emergency service.

The air ambulance crews deliver critical care at road traffic collisions, sports events, medical emergencies – such as cardiac arrest and accidents at home – and other incidents needing expert pre-hospital medical interventions 24/7, 365 days a year.

This December Shirley, Diane Twells, and the team at DHL East Midlands Airport will hit a massive milestone with their fundraising partnership with the charity, and by the end of the year, they could raise as much as an impressive £130,000!

Jo Payne, National Partnerships Manager for the charity said:

“We have had a wonderful partnership over many years with DHL and I am especially delighted that Shirley and Diane have been recognised this year for their commitment in raising so much money for us and that their colleagues have given so generously. In any partnership, key individuals put their heart and soul into it, and these ladies are an absolute tour de force.”

“We receive no government funding so support from companies such as this one helps us to remain operational. Together we are supporting this vital service to help save lives.”

Partnerships with companies such as these provide vital support to ensure the vital service can continue to save more lives.

Mark Evans, VP Hubs and Gateways, DHL Express UK said: “We’re so impressed with the work Shirley has done over the years for this brilliant and essential charity and we’re delighted to be able to support her and the DLRAA. DHL’s Got Heart is a global competition to reward employees who put their passion and energy into amazing causes. It allows us to get to know our people for what they do beyond their jobs, recognise the contributions they make to their communities and to support them financially.”

The charity is celebrating its 15^th anniversary of lifesaving service across Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland in 2023. To help mark the momentous milestone the charity is asking for supporters to send in any photos, footage or clippings, or share their stories to help showcase how well the service has developed over the years into the leading provider of pre-hospital critical care it is today. To get involved please visit: www.theairambulanceservice.org.uk or call 0300 3047 999.