Ambulance staff support local charities
Staff from South Western Ambulance Service (SWASFT) have raised more than £2,000 for local charities from a sponsored cycle and walk along the Granite Way.
The event took place on 16 May 2015 with many ambulance staff and their friends and family cycling and walking from Okehampton to Bridestowe, along the Granite Way. The event was in aid of the Devon Ambulance Staff Benevolent Fund (DASBF) and FORCE Cancer Charity.
The cycle route was 16 miles long and the walk eight miles with support for those taking part being given in the form of fresh fruit supplied by Riverford Organic Farms.
Paramedic support from colleagues was provided along the route as well as bike repairs and refreshments at the half-way point.
The organisers, SWASFT’s Jane Pettifer (control rooms audit and training team) and Claire Morgan (frequent caller lead) also held a raffle to further boost the money raised by the event. Prizes, such as wine, chocolates and BBQs were very kindly donated by many local businesses as well as shopping and event vouchers.
Jane and Claire said: “We were absolutely blown away by the support we received, from all our colleagues and the local businesses. It is fantastic to have been able to raise much needed funds for both charities.”
On Thursday 30 July 2015, Jane and Claire met Naomi Cole from FORCE Cancer Charity and SWASFT’s Chris Wiseman (representing DASBF) to handover the cheques.
Naomi from FORCE said: “We are hugely grateful to Jane and Claire for all of their hard work in organising the walk/ride along the Granite Way – as well of course to everyone who took part, and/or donated a prize for the hugely-successful raffle. Fantastic to hear that it was such a good day and an amazing total raised too. All of FORCE’s work continues to be funded entirely by voluntary donations, so your money is vital. It costs £1,500 a day to run our Cancer Support Centre, so the money raised will make a huge difference. Many thanks again to everyone.”
In total, £2,280 was raised for the charities with DASBF receiving £1,155 and Force received £1,125.
