Confusion over Air Ambulance doorstep campaign

26 January 2012

Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA) is urging supporters in Rugby to help keep the helicopter in the skies amid confusion from a new door to door charity campaign.

WNAA has been inundated by calls since the County Air Ambulance Trust started canvassing extensively locally. It is  running a campaign to raise funds to build helipads nationwide at A & E Departments. Most recently it helped develop a new one at Southampton General Hospital.

Kate Childs, WNAA Director of Marketing and Communications, said: "In the past we have had huge problems from bogus charity bag collectors and I must stress that this is a legitimate charity. Obviously people are free to support whatever charity or good cause they choose.

"But we have had many calls from our supporters in the area confused by this County Air Ambulance Trust campaign. Because of the image of the helicopter and the name 'county' people presume that they are signing up to a campaign we are running. They are then contacting us to check where the money is going and whether there are actually supporting the Air Ambulance that serves their community daily.

"I want to clarify that the County Air Ambulance is in no way connected to WNAA, nor does it fund us in anyway.