19 December 2008

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance receive a Christmas gift from Ordnance Survey

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance have received an early Christmas present thanks to the generosity of staff at Southampton-based Ordnance Survey.

Representatives from the mapping agency, including Director of HR & Corporate Services, Jan Hutchinson, presented a cheque for £7,000 to Air Ambulance Paramedic, Chris Tate, and Project Support Officer Lynne Dadley.

Staff at Ordnance Survey elected the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance as the organisation’s corporate charity for 2008–09. The £7,000 Christmas donation resulted from staff voting against receiving their traditional box of chocolates at Christmas – choosing instead to donate the money to the corporate charity. 

In addition to the Christmas donation staff from Ordnance Survey have arranged various events and activities to raise much needed funds for the air ambulance. The total amount raised by staff from these events will be presented in April 2009.

Jan said: "I’m delighted to be able to present this Christmas donation to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance on behalf of the staff at Ordnance Survey - It is a pleasure to be supporting this crucial resource.

"None of us know when we may need the help of an air ambulance – and we chose to support the air ambulance as we know the benefits it will give to people’s recovery from a traumatic situation.”

Launched in October 2005 as a charity, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance became fully operational in July 2007. The air ambulance relies solely on voluntary donations needing more than £2,000 each day to keep it operational.

Air Ambulance Paramedic Chris Tate added: “Everyone associated the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance is delighted by this fantastic donation and we would like to thank all the staff at Ordnance Survey.

“Our helicopter is leased and we need monthly funds, so without the support of organisationslike Ordnance Survey we wouldn’t be able to keep flying."

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Head of Corporate Communications - Rob Andrews

Email: rob.andrews@ordnancesurvey.co.uk

Phone: (+44) 023 8005 5563

Senior Communications & PR Officer - Paul Beauchamp

Email: paul.beauchamp@ordnancesurvey.co.uk

Phone: (+44) 023 8005 5564

Press Office fax: (+44) 023 8005 6156