WARWICKSHIRE & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance’s wildly successful Bottle Bank campaign has made a comeback for the month following an outstanding first year.
The campaign, which asks supporters across the county to fill milk bottles with their spare change, raised an incredible £30,000 last year – and this year the charity wants to raise even more money, targeting £40,000.
Bottle Bank is running until November, giving supporters plenty of time to think of how to fill theirs.
Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance has celebrated both its 12th anniversary of operation and its 16,000th mission in the last two weeks.
Each mission the service runs costs an average of £1,700 and – as the service receives no government funding – campaigns like this are vital to keep their lifesaving service flying.
Someone who knows that all too well is Emma Lockton who was involved in a road traffic collision that left her with a broken hand, elbow, ribs, pelvis and both femurs as well as a punctured lung and ruptured spleen.
Emma said: “If the air ambulance didn’t exist, I’m sure I wouldn’t have survived – it was their speed and medical skills that saved my life.
“Without donations, this vital service can’t continue to function, which is why I’m proud to support their Bottle Bank campaign.”
Katie, Emma’s sister and the charity’s fundraising co-ordinator for Warwickshire, said: “Our Bottle Bank campaign is a great opportunity for schools and businesses to come together and help us carry on saving lives.
“Not only does fundraising like this bring people together, it also helps the service continue to fly and possibly help save the life of somebody within their local community – just like my sister.
“We are asking everyone to rinse out an empty milk bottle and fill it up with cash.
“From coffee mornings to non-uniform days, the possibilities to fill yours up are endless.”
For more information about the Bottle Bank campaign, or to sign up to receive your fundraising pack, visit www.theairambulanceservice.org.uk/bottlebank or call the charity direct on 08454 130999.
