Volvo Trucks’ support raises nearly £40k for Air Ambulance Services

Air ambulance services across the Midlands saw a £15,600 boost to their funds in April thanks to the backing of Volvo Trucks and Birmingham-based Steve Benton Transport.  For the second year running the companies have been the sponsors of a fund-raising golf tournament, which has resulted in a total of nearly £40,000 going to the County Air Ambulance Trust.

The golf tournament was the idea of haulier and Volvo-user Steve Benson who has had personal experience of an air ambulance rescue. The money raised by the golf tournaments has been earmarked for the Trust’s HELP Appeal which has been set up to pay for the construction of new helipads to enable air ambulances to land at key A&E and orthopaedic hospitals. Very few hospitals currently have helipads and a number of those that do need upgrading to provide more efficient transfers and night operations.

As Steve says:  “As a transport operator, I already knew how vital the role of air ambulances are in responding to air traffic accidents, but my own situation really opened my eyes to the difference their fast response can make.  I wanted to do something to help support their work and when I explained what I was doing to Volvo Trucks, whose vehicles I use, they agreed to give their financial backing.”

Ian Mitchell, Volvo Trucks’ Commercial Director explains why the company has added its support to the HELP Appeal. He says, “Everyone in the road transport industry knows how important a good infrastructure is. In the case of air ambulance services, where fast transfer can make a huge difference to someone’s chances of survival after a serious accident, the appropriate landing facilities are vital. We see our support to the appeal as being part of our overall contribution to the improvement of the national safety infrastructure.”