Devon Air Ambulance secures funding for life-saving journeys

Devon Air Ambulance Trust has secured funding for potentially life-saving journeys over the next 12 months – thanks to a renewed charity partnership with Thomson Airways.

Staff at Thomson Airways’ Exeter Airport base have donated almost £13,000 since the partnership began in September 2015, and the airline has confirmed donations will continue for a further year.

Money is raised in a variety of ways by Thomson pilots, cabin crew and ground staff based at the airport – from bake-offs to bungee jumps – and complements contributions made by passengers on the airline’s Exeter-bound flights.

News of the renewed agreement comes ahead of the trust’s plan to operate services until midnight from this October. Following the announcement, Devon Air Ambulance Trust Fundraising Director Caroline Creer said: “We are so pleased that Thomson Airways has chosen to support Devon Air Ambulance once again.

“We rely solely on the generous donations of the people, communities and businesses of Devon to keep our helicopters flying as we extend our service to operate until midnight this October; funds raised and donated by Thomson Airways are invaluable to the future of our service and we are immensely grateful for their continued support.”

Geri Ashton, Thomson Airways’ Base Support Manager at Exeter Airport, said: “The work that the Air Ambulance do is so deserving of support, and we are delighted to be able to do so by providing funding for life-saving journeys.

“We are proud to be based in, and fly from, Devon – and it’s a pleasure to be able to give something back to the community. I would like to say a huge thank you to all my Thomson Airways colleagues, and our generous customers, whose generosity makes this partnership possible.”