Fundraisers representing Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance attended the 5th Anniversary Charity Ball at The Hub in Edinburgh recently. The gala dinner and fundraiser saw 250 people attend the event to celebrate the charity’s 5th birthday. During this period, SCAA have attended approaching 2000 time-critical emergencies all over the country and several of those people who they have flown to support, spoke at the event about the importance of the air ambulance.
In 2018, the charity announced their intention to launch a second air ambulance to supplement the service already in operation in Perth. The new helicopter will be based in Aberdeen and fundraising is already underway to raise the £6m that it will cost the operate the service for the first 3 years. Chairman of The Trustees John Bullough addressed the gathered masses about the new helicopter and said this had only been because the charity was now self-sufficient in funding the initial helicopter. A large slice of this income comes from the SCAA Weekly Lottery, run and administrated by Tower Lotteries, and John took time out after his speech to speak to those fundraisers present and explain just how vital the money from the lottery has become. “This has only been possible thanks to you,” he said. “The lottery has been a huge success and we cannot thank each of you enough for the part you have played in this.”
SCAA Chief Executive David Craig also spoke at the event and Tower Lotteries were honoured when again we were mentioned as being a vital part of the charity’s future. The SCAA Weekly Lottery has made huge strides in recent years to become the fastest growing weekly draw in Scotland and the fastest growing air ambulance weekly draw anywhere in The UK. Such has been the growth, that the lottery represents the biggest source of income for the charity and almost single-handedly funds the helicopter already in operation at Perth. The challenge for all concerned now is to continue to grow the membership and ensure that the draw can also contribute heavily towards the new helicopter in Aberdeen that will come into operation in 2019.
