LB are proud to announce that they've chosen the London Air Ambulance Service as the official LB charity partner. Today, LB’s Cezar Fenianos had a meeting with Christine Margetts and her boss, Andrew Cameron, who are both Trustee’s with the London Air Ambulance charity. Cezar was shown round the helicopter while he discussed the particulars of a partnership between LB and LAA. The meeting went very well, with all parties benefiting greatly from the new partnership.
LB wanted to join up in partnership with the London Air Ambulance Service, first of all because; they save lives everyday and do a totally amazing job whilst doing so. Secondly, because, this is something that's close to all of us as bikers, also, it is an incredibly important service for our Capital. The London Air Ambulance Service relies heavily on charitable donations from the public, although they do get NHS Funding and corporate sponsorship as well. They also receive some funding from Virgin, who sponsors half of the helicopters lease. LB is very keen and excited to be able to help raise money to help keep this service running for Londoners. Together we can help to raise awareness of safety on London’s roads for motorcyclists, through good riding skills, and appropriate protective clothing.
Due to ever-increasing inflation and demand for the service, London’s Air Ambulance needs another £500,000 a year to continue to support the helicopter in daylight hours, and to keep the rapid response cars on the road. Since 9/11 their costs have risen by over 40% due to aviation insurances, and the cost of maintaining their new generation helicopter. To keep the London Air Ambulance in the air this year they need to raise more than £750K. Now that LB and London Air Ambulance are official partners, we can help them raise the funds that are very much needed. The total annual cost of providing this service for London is a staggering £1.4 million.
Based at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, London’s Air Ambulance has flown over 14,500 missions since they launched in 1989. They are the only UK air ambulance that provides a senior doctor and a specially trained major trauma paramedic. They also operate 365 days of the year. The helicopter can be in the air within two minutes of receiving an emergency call and can be anywhere inside the M25 in 12 minutes or less. To them, speed is everything, the sooner the doctor can be at the patient’s side, the better the patient’s chance of survival.
In the UK, the main cause of death for the under 50’s are accidents. The London Air Ambulance service was established to respond quickly to road traffic accidents, burns and other serious accidents like gun wounds, due to the increase in congestion on London’s roads. Above all it deals with major trauma; a lot of the victims may have brain damage or serious injury to the spine, even rare or complicated conditions where the patient’s condition deteriorates quickly.
LB and London Air Ambulance’s new partnership will bring together funding for the service and campaigns, for better road safety. Together we can help raise awareness for all riders in the Capital, through education of safer riding. This is a big step forward for LB who are very proud to have London Air Ambulance on board as the official charity partner. That’s not even mentioning the fun to be had whilst raising lots of money for them. Watch this space!
Related Linkswww.hems-london.org.uk
