IT'S been another year to remember for Devon's air ambulances and it's all down to you!

Thanks to the Devon people, the county has two state of the art air ambulances, flying up to 14 hours a day. 

This year has had so many highlights, from the arrival of our new state of the art second owned aircraft GDAAN and celebrating our 21st birthday, to another successful motorcycle ride out and exceeding expectations in membership for our in house lottery (in fact we've reached 2014 targets already) to achieving £1 million worth of sales for the first time in our Charity shops.  

The icing on the cake was being shortlisted for three awards of excellence by the Association of Air Ambulances, and winning the campaign award for 'Devon Air Ambulance on Tour'.  Our pilot Rob Mackie won a 'Pride of Exeter' award and we were shortlisted for a Pride of Plymouth (emergency services category), Western Morning News Business Award Employee of the Year (Adam Short – highly commended) and our CEO Heléna Holt was named in the top 30 CEOs on social media (Guardian Voluntary).

We can't afford to rest on our laurels though.  We have to raise in excess of £4.5 million every year, but we know with your support that's possible.  This sum is also due to rise substantially, in fact by over £1 million year on year, as we look to our strategic plan to further increase the service.  We will be doing this in a few ways:

1.    Working with the community to identify local helipads to facilitate services after dark

2.    Introducing a new advanced clinical skills programme for our highly experienced paramedics

3.    Extending operating hours all year round

None of this would be possible without your support and fundraising and taking the Charity and service to your hearts.  Thank you so much.  We wish you all a peaceful and relaxing Christmas and a happy and healthy 2014.

Sarah Burden

Devon Air Ambulance Trust