Award winning financial services company Gemini Wealth Management has teamed up with Midlands Air Ambulance to support the charity’s life-saving work.

The Sutton Coldfield based independent financial advisers have signed up to the Midlands Air Ambulance Corporate Partnership programme this week.

Through the programme (launched in March 2010) local businesses are able to support Midlands Air Ambulance operational life-saving missions and the charity’s public safety awareness schemes such as the education initiatives at local schools.

Chris Wathen, Group Marketing Manager at Gemini says “Midlands Air Ambulance provides a vital service to people in the region but it needs the support of businesses such as ours to continue saving lives. Everyone at Gemini is delighted to be supporting such a worthwhile charity and we would urge other regional businesses to consider assisting with sponsorship too.”

For more information on Gemini please visit www.gemini-wm.com.

Midlands Air Ambulance is really excited about working with Gemini Wealth Management and would like to thank everyone for their brilliant support.

Middleton Equestrian Centre is opening its stable doors for a Fun Day in aid of Midlands Air Ambulance and St Giles Hospice this month.

On Monday 30th August Tamworth horsemen (along with friends and family) will be trotting through Middleton to compete in the sixth annual fun day at the local equestrian centre.

From 10.30am riders will take part in a number of charity events including show-jumping, dressage, fancy dress (the more imaginative the better!) and even a classic egg and spoon race.

Other attractions on the day will include horseshoe painting, dog agility displays and an all day BBQ, profits from which will be donated to Midlands Air Ambulance and St Giles Hospice.

Kerry Arnold, owner of Middleton Equestrian Centre says “We’ve had a tremendous response to the fun day so far and everyone is getting really excited about the different events taking place, particularly the fancy dress! What makes the fun day really special is that everyone taking part is helping to raise money for two amazing charities that provide an invaluable service to our local community. It is hoped that this year’s event will raise over £1,000 to split between Midlands Air Ambulance and St Giles Hospice.”

Participation of each event is charged at £10 for those competing with their own horse and £20 for those hiring a horse for the day from Middleton Equestrian Centre. All entrants must be pre-registered. For more information visit www.middletonequestrian.co.uk or call Kerry on 0121 311 1601.

Firefighter Neal Evans has walked an incredible 92 miles for Midlands Air Ambulance.

Neal successfully completed the Staffordshire Way (an epic hike spanning the length and width of the county) in just three days last month and has raised an impressive £1578 for the charity.

What makes it even more incredible is that two years ago Neal was fighting for his life after falling 15ft from the roof of his house in Stafford.

After being airlifted to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire Neal spent six months recovering from a double fracture to the skull and a broken wrist. He was also temporarily paralysed down one leg.

Two years on and Neal is back at work performing light duties whilst taking on remarkable challenges in his spare time.

Everyone at Midlands Air Ambulance would to say a big congratulations to Neal for completing the Staffordshire Way and express our gratitude for the support that he has shown towards the charity.

Car enthusiasts are being asked to show their support for a fundraising project that’s taking off in the Midlands.

Flight crew at Midlands Air Ambulance are transforming a rusty 1-litre blue Mini Neon into a supercharged ‘Heli-Mini’ to be used as a promotional tool at events and schools across the region.

To be able to complete the project the Heli-Mini team is launching an urgent appeal for much-needed parts, most importantly an A+ series 1275cc Austin engine.

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Eileen Sandford MBE, aged 87 from Longden, is launching her autobiography next week in aid of Midlands Air Ambulance.

The autobiography, entitled ‘Come on Eileen!’, has taken three years to complete and will be launched on Wednesday 18th August at the Pengwern Book Shop, the Market Hall, Shrewsbury.

The 220 page book is packed full of uplifting anecdotes about Eileen’s 30 years spent fundraising for charities across the region, including the time she abseiled 133 feet down Lord Hill’s Column, Shrewsbury, at the age of 80!

“I often look back at my fundraising experiences and think I must be mad!” says Eileen. “But these charities do so many good things for local people that they really do deserve our support and I’m pleased that my latest venture will be supporting Midlands Air Ambulance.”

Not only has Eileen spent her years fundraising but she was also the Mayor of Shrewsbury (2003/04) and introduced the Girl Guides to Nigeria (where she lived for thirteen years).

In 2004 Eileen’s hard work was recognised by the Queen who awarded her an MBE for her community work and commitment to charities.

Eileen will be making a guest appearance at the Pengwern Book Shop from 12.30pm next Wednesday to sign copies of her long-awaited book. Proceeds from the book will be going towards Midlands Air Ambulance.

‘Come on Eileen!’ is priced at £25 and is available from www.shrewsburybooks.com or by emailing mikewillmott@unicombox.co.uk

The Raise and Give (RAG) team at Harper Adams University College in Shropshire have raised an impressive £500 for Midlands Air Ambulance.
New Student Union (SU) President for 2010/11, Pete Dodd, handed over the cheque last week which was one of his first jobs as president.

Pete, 23, from Teesside, said: “This money was raised by the 2009/10 Raise and Give (RAG) team. Last year’s SU president, Chris Manley, chose to give £500 of it to the Midlands Air Ambulance. It’s a great local cause and the air ambulance has even been here to help us at Harper Adams when people have had sporting injuries. The Midlands Air Ambulance relies heavily on donations so I am very pleased to be handing over this money today.”

Last year’s RAG team raised £15,000 and Pete hopes that will be exceeded this year.

We would like to thank Pete and the rest of the RAG team who have fundraised at Harper Adams. Thank you!

Midlands Air Ambulance received a special ‘unbirthday’ present this week.

Vanessa Beardsmore celebrated her 40th birthday last month by handing over a cheque for £210 to Midlands Air Ambulance.

Friends and family were asked to make donations to the charity in lieu of buying any birthday presents for Vanessa this year.

Midlands Air Ambulance hopes that Vanessa had a brilliant birthday and would like to thank her very much for this very special treat.

Pupils from Broseley Church of England School have raised an impressive £4,500 for Midlands Air Ambulance.

The pupils spent a year fundraising for the charity in memory of fellow pupil Xander Shaw who died in July last year.

The money was raised through a number of events including a marathon where each pupil walked at least half a mile - a total of 896 miles!

The school has also introduced a design and science award in memory of the seven year old, which is presented to a top pupil each year.

Pupils Jo Evans, Claudia Gunter, Fletcher Law and Antonia Shaw visited Cosford air base last week to hand the £4578.54 over to Midlands Air Ambulance.

Midlands Air Ambulance would like to thank all of the pupils at Broseley School for their very kind donation.

An artistic fundraiser is hosting a charity art exhibition in aid of Midlands Air Ambulance this month.

Lauren Brinkworth from Bedworth has been collecting pieces of art from kindhearted artists across the Midlands to display and sell at what will be her first exhibition.

The artwork will be exhibited at Bedworth Arts Centre from the 2nd August to 4th September and will be on sale between 10am and 3pm Monday to Saturday with all proceeds going to Midlands Air Ambulance.

To mark the opening of the exhibition, Lauren is inviting Bedworth locals and art enthusiasts to the official unveiling of the artwork between 7pm and 10pm on Friday 6th August.

Pursuing her love of art Lauren is hoping to start an Arts and Festival Management degree at DeMontfort University in September. Everyone at Midlands Air Ambulance would like to wish Lauren the best of luck in her studies and thank her for supporting Midlands Air Ambulance.

For more information visit the event on facebook