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Law firm boosts UK’s busiest air ambulance fundraising

25 April 2008

Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA) has kicked off the new fund raising season with two new marquees, thanks to the generosity of a local law firm.

Shoosmiths, which has an office in Northampton, donated the new marquees to help the charity raise its profile at local fetes and events.

Tracy Grunwell, Regional Fundraising Manager for WNAA said: "We lost our marquees in high winds last summer and they are an important way of raising our profile as well as keeping our volunteers dry. We rely entirely on voluntary donations and receive no assistance from the Government or the National Lottery so this kind purchase from Shoosmiths is very welcome."

The WNAA is one of only three services outside of London to routinely carry a Doctor on board. It covers 2000 square miles of Coventry, Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, Milton Keynes and some of the key border areas like Market Harborough, Banbury and Solihull. By mutual agreement, the WNAA also helps out neighbouring Birmingham, the West Midlands, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Leicestershire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.

The service has 12 doctors, 12 paramedics and 3 pilots which service a population of around 1.1 million people. Based at Coventry Airport, in the three years it has been operating, it has flown over 6000 missions. With an ever-increasing callout rate of between 120 and 150 callouts per month, the WNAA is the busiest air ambulance in the UK.

Commenting on the donation, Shoosmiths partner Laurence Marshall said: "WNAA provides a valuable service saving many lives in the region because of the skill and attention of the crew members. It is a pleasure to be able to support the charity, especially because it has helped many of our badly injured accident claim clients."

In March, the work of the WNAA was featured on a Channel 5 programme which reconstructed the accident and rescue of a badly injured lady who has been receiving legal advice by the personal injury team at Shoosmiths. The law firm advises dozens of people every year on recovering compensation, including for loss of earnings and rehabilitation costs arising from serious injuries and has particular expertise in handling cases involving head, spine and spinal cord injuries.

For further information please contact:
Name: Karen Carter
Phone: 08700 864086
Email: karen.carter@shoosmiths.co.uk