Somerset Rotary Club raises funds to support lifesaving missions for children’s charity

Somerset’s Weston Bay Rotary Club have been raising funds to support the lifesaving missions of the Children’s Air Ambulance (TCAA).

Weston Bay Rotary Club formed in August 2023 and for their very first fundraiser they chose to support the lifesaving Children’s Air Ambulance.

The club’s fundraising event took place at South Sands Hotel in Kewstoke and consisted of a wonderful three course meal, raffle, and a special guest speaker, John Volanthen – who was one of the cave divers who found and rescued the Thai football team and their coach from a flooded cave.

In total the event raised a fantastic £396.00 to support the children’s charity and their lifesaving missions.

“We were delighted to raise vital funds to support TCAA and make a difference to the lives of critically ill babies and children across the UK,” said Linda Matthews, Weston Bay Rotary Club Treasurer.

“This was our very first fundraiser and the first of many, and we feel privileged to be able to say that our funds will go towards saving more little lives,” 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 the Southwest Neonatal Advice and Retrieval (SoNAR), based at the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trusts Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St Michael’s Hospital in Southwell Street and a second hub at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth. The team provide clinical advice and transport services for Neonatal Units and Special Care Baby Units within the South West.

Fiona Franklin, Community Fundraising Executive for the charity, said:

“We would like to thank everyone involved with the Weston Bay Rotary Club for choosing to support our lifesaving charity and for helping to raise awareness of our service.

“We receive no government or National Lottery funding and without this vital support from the local community and businesses, our helicopters wouldn’t remain operational, and our lifesaving service wouldn’t be available for critically ill babies and children across the UK,” she expressed.

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