£10,000 to keep air ambulance flying for another day!

SAINSBURY’S Melksham have raised over £10,000 for Wiltshire Air Ambulance over the year in support of colleague Carol Gray, who was involved in a serious car accident in 2013. 

Through book sales, half-marathons, cake sales and Christmas markets, customers and staff at Sainsbury’s in Melksham have raised £10,276 to support life saving work at Wiltshire Air Ambulance. 

Wiltshire Air Ambulance was chosen as the store’s charity of the year following employee Carol Gray’s car accident in 2013, resulting in her breaking her neck and ribs and fracturing her pelvis. 

She said, “I was a patient of the air ambulance on February 21st, 2013. I was driving on the A420 when I was t-boned by a lorry. 

“I don’t remember anything from after the crash but I was flown to what was Frenchay at the time. I was only there for seven days, had my neck in a brace for three months and back to work after five months. 

“They didn’t know whether I would be paralysed or able to walk again, however I now have a metal neck which is fixed. The quicker you get back to doing things the better, but I still have flashbacks from the accident. 

Lewis Pancott, store manager said, “The fundraising went really well. We would like to thank all of the customers of Melksham for their donations and also to the colleagues for their fundraising. 

“It is a lot of money and  we hope it will help the Wiltshire Air Ambulance continue the work they are doing. We chose this charity in support of Carol following a serious car accident.”

Valarie Whistler, partnerships coordinator at Wiltshire Air Ambulance said, “We would like to say a huge thank you to Sainsbury’s for not only choosing us as their charity of the year but for the immense fundraising total. £10,000 is a lot of money, they are amazing fundraisers! Thank you very much. 

“It costs more than £10,000 a day to keep the air ambulance running, so we need to raise that amount in order to save lives.”

If you think you can help towards raising money for the charity, contact Valarie on valarie@wiltshireair ambulance.co.uk.

Pictured: Sainsbury’s staff with regional manager Sophie Taylor (third from left), store manager Lewis Pancott (back left) and air ambulance pilot Rob Backus (back right).