Monday 28 November 2011

Van centre pledge to ‘BOB’ air ambulance

A Milton Keynes business has pledged to raise thousands of pounds before Christmas for the region’s air ambulance service.

Wayside Volkswagen Van Centre is donating £10 for every test drive taken from now until the end of the year, with all proceeds going to the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance.

More affectionately referred to as ‘BOB’, the air ambulance service covers the three counties of Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

As the local service for Milton Keynes residents, the air ambulance completes on average one mission a week in the area.

The Volkswagen business has committed to a minimum donation of £1,000 but is expecting demand for its new test drive service to generate even more funds.

Wayside Volkswagen Van Centre fleet sales manager, Paul Robertson, said: “You just never know when you may require the air ambulance and to know that there is a team of experts on hand who may just save you or your loved ones’ life, is very reassuring.”

The charity run service has to raise £2.8 million a year to enable the air ambulance to keep flying. It presently completes on average three missions a day costing £2,000 for each flight.

Paul, added: “To help raise as much as possible for ‘BOB’, we have launched a new test drive programme where we take the vehicles direct to the businesses, removing the need for the customers travelling to us.”

Air Ambulance fundraising manager for Milton Keynes, Laura Nicholas, said: “We are completely reliant on the support of businesses like Wayside Volkswagen Van Centre to ensure our ongoing service so certainly hope that many van operators take advantage of the test drive programme.”

The ‘BOB’ air ambulance service is in its 11th year of operation and is continually raising funds to help increase its flying hours and to strengthen its service for the region.

The response team consists of two pilots and 16 paramedics, who also work for the land ambulance service on a shift basis. In addition the air ambulance has five volunteer doctors. To support the ‘BOB’ Air Ambulance visit http://www.supportbob.co.uk/.

To test drive a Volkswagen Caddy, Transporter, Crafter or Amarok and help raise funds for ‘BOB’, call Wayside Volkswagen Van centre on 01908 366 300 or visit http://www.jardinemotors.co.uk/






















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