Crystal Ball_-_Highlight_Of_The_DAAT_Fundraising

Eurocopter EC135 of Devon Air Ambulance Trust

The Devon Air Ambulance Trust will be celebrating its 15 anniversary in 2007. The anniversary gift for 15 years is Crystal. The charity will be organising a number of high profile fundraising events in order to celebrate this landmark.

The highlight of these celebrations will be “The Crystal Ball”, a black tie event, which is being held on 22nd June at Padbrook Park Hotel, Cullompton. Padbrook Park are also kindly supporting the charity as their Charity of the Year.

The evening commences with a champagne reception sponsored by Sainsbury's Supermarkets Limited and gets off to a flying start when the EC135 helicopter lands with photo opportunities for guests (subject to operations and weather). There is plenty of entertainment for guests with a number of optional fun activities including the “Crazy Golf Challenge” by floodlight and an exciting bungee run – not for the faint hearted! As it is the Crystal Ball, Gemini FM’s very own Clairvoyant, Jacki Humphries, will be on hand to give readings. Highly experienced and respected broadcaster Judi Spiers, best known as a popular presenter on BBC Radio Devon, will add sparkle as well as MC. David Fitzgerald, who has also recently joined the BBC Radio Devon team, will be our auctioneer for the evening. They are both remembered for their fun knockabout rapport with sidekick Gus Honeybun, whilst working on local tv station TSW.

Lyn Paver, Chief Executive of the Devon Air Ambulance Trust says “The Devon Air Ambulance is very proud to have reached such a major milestone and are celebrating with a number of high profile events. We are very excited about ‘The Crystal Ball’, which promises to be a glittering event, with not one, but three well-known Radio and TV personalities. It costs £2.2 million each year to keep both helicopters flying for which we receive no government funding. We totally rely on the generosity of the Devon people to support us and we hope that that our Summer Ball will be well attended to raise much needed funds for the charity.”

Ticket prices for the Ball are reasonably priced at £45 per person or £425.00 for a table of 10 to include a sumptuous 3-course dinner and dancing until late to Maxim Leisure plus fantastic raffle and auction prizes. For information on how to purchase tickets, please contact the charity on 01392 466666 or email info@daat.org.

The Devon Air Ambulance flew its first mission on 27th August 1992
The second Air Ambulance in North Devon went into service on 28th April 2005 and has to date flown over 1,150 missions
The Exeter based Air Ambulance will shortly be flying its 10,000th mission
Both helicopters fly 7 days a week
The Devon Air Ambulance Trust is the charity which raises the funds to keep both Air Ambulances in Devon flying
The charity/service celebrates15 years in 2007.
The charity was started by Ann Thomas whose son died in 1986 after being knocked from his bicycle. The consultant at hospital told her the quicker a patient . The consultant at hospital told her the quicker a patient gets to hospital/receives medical treatment, the more likely they are to survive
It costs £2.2 million each year to keep both helicopters flying
With 2 Air Ambulances 50% of Devon can be reached by Air Ambulance within 5 minutes, with the remainder within 15 minutes
The charity receives no funding from central or local Government, or the National Lottery