Grandson fuels support for Air Ambulances
Gillian and Mike Sexton from Tipton St John, near Sidmouth are Devon Air Ambulance Trust volunteers. They are also organising an event at the Exeter Golf & Country Club on Saturday 7 June in order to raise additional funds, as their way to say a very personal thank you.
Gillian explains “Our eldest grandson Callum was airlifted by Air Ambulance just hours after his home birth, after developing breathing problems. Thankfully after spending the day in hospital undergoing tests he was given a clean bill of health and allowed back home. It was, nonetheless, a very worrying time for his parents, Noel and Nikki, and the rest of the family. Callum is now a fit and healthy eight year old.”
The couple wanted to know how they could thank the charity funded service for what they had done for their family and have now taken on the job of volunteer box collectors in the Ottery St Mary and Sid Valley areas - a job which they find very rewarding.
The evening will comprise of live music from local band ‘One Foot in the Groove’, playing classic hits from the 60’s to present day, a BBQ, buffet and a raffle. There will also be an auction which includes a Land Rover 4x4 Off Road Experience for two people, a Boeing 737 Simulator Experience, a signed Seth Lakeman CD, a designer shoulder bag and Afternoon Tea for two at Hotel Endsleigh (owned by Olga Polizzi, mother of TV's Hotel Inspector Alex Polizzi).
Doors open at 7pm, BBQ Buffet will be served at 7.30pm and tickets cost £17.50.
Rosey Oakes, Volunteers Officer of Devon Air Ambulance Trust said “We would like to thank Gillian and Mike for choosing to support us in this way. They do such a fantastic job as volunteers and for them to decide to further support us is very heartening. Due to patient confidentiality often we don’t get to know the outcome of our patients so it’s lovely to hear the difference that we made to Callum and of course the knock on effect on his family.”
We have over 400 volunteers who all play a key role in our organisation, but we are always on the look out for more! We simply couldn’t manage without them. We urgently need people to help in our shops, particularly our new shop in Budleigh Salterton and our discount shop in Exmouth.
It currently costs £4.5 million per year to keep the two Air Ambulances airborne with all of the money needed coming from the generosity and goodwill of the community, businesses and friends of Devon. It is a free service available to all - bringing the right care to the right place at the right time.
For tickets and more information please contact Gillian on 01404 814628 or 07952 422292. Alternatively you can email her at gms@thegoyle.eclipse.co.uk
