Generous legacy lifts lifesaving children’s charity

The Children’s Air Ambulance (TCAA) has commemorated a significant legacy by naming one of its aircraft after the generous donor.

The Children’s Air Ambulance is a national charity 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 vital children’s service receives no government or NHS funding and relies solely on generous donors to raise the £3,600 for each transfer mission. Donations through gifts in Wills, also known as a legacy gift, ensures the charity can continue helping to save lives across the UK.

Chris and Jo West from Hope Valley, Derbyshire, were known for being generous and caring with both their time and money, but always in a quiet unobtrusive way. Whereas the couple had agreed to leave the bulk of their Estate to the RNLI, Chris left a legacy of £1,000,000 to the Children’s Air Ambulance.

Greatly appreciative of the legacy left, the charity honoured the kind-hearted couple by adding their names to one of its AgustaWestland 169 helicopters – to commemorate the donation.

“We are extremely grateful for Chris’ support of our charity, and it was a pleasure to unveil Chris and Jo’s names to the executors of Chris’ Will at our Oxford airbase,” said Chloe Bass, TCAA Legacies and In Memory Manager.

“Legacies play a vital role in our charity, funding one in seven of our transfer missions. Every legacy, no matter how big or small, will leave a profound impact, ensuring our helicopters continue to fly for years to come. A legacy gift honouring a loved one allows their memory to live on long into the future, allowing us to save lives of future generations in their name,” she added.

To learn more about leaving a lasting legacy, please click here.