THE APPEAL to equip Okehampton St John Ambulance with a new Crusader vehicle was given a boost last week with the donation of £1,000 from the EX20 Lottery funds.
Okehampton branch of St John Ambulance, which is run by volunteers, is aiming to raise at least £45,000 during the next two years to try and buy the new ambulance.
The group?s present ambulance has less than 20,000 miles on the clock from new ? but it needs to be replaced before 2005 because it does not comply with new regulations issued by the EU.
Judy Saunders, secretary of the St John Ambulance branch said she was ?overwhelmed? by the grant and hoped it would provide a ?great kick-start? to the appeal.
The present ambulance was bought and paid for through the fundraising efforts of the branch and support of local people eleven years ago.
The ambulance is very well used and provides a service at many events in the area.
Mrs Saunders said the appeal had been launched by the branch in March because it was determined to ensure Okehampton would continue to have a functioning St John Ambulance to carry out its important community work in the future.
St John Ambulance has also just got involved with Okehampton?s inaugural balloon festival, which takes place in Simmons Park next month, and will be fund-raising at the event.
Anyone who would like to make a donation to the Okehampton St John Ambulance appeal can send it to branch treasurer Mr R Harper, 55 Westcots Drive, Winkleigh, EX19 8JW.
Mrs Saunders said the branch was always happy to hear from new
volunteers, Mrs Saunders can be contacted on 01837 659292.
Also benefitting from the latest round of awards made at the EX20 Lottery committee meeting, were Okehampton Youth Club, which received £600 and the
Castle Bell Project, which received £500. Exbourne and Sourton Village Halls both received £500. Okehampton Rugby Football Club received £500 and the youth section of the rugby club received £200.