Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance - Thames Valley Air Ambulance Helped Me

When Business in Berkshire reader Rachel Andrew found herself mother to a 'Young Cosette' in Les Miserables as her 8 year old was cast in the role, she was helped immensely by children's administrator Jo Hawes. Jo does a fantastic job of looking after children who appear in West End shows - and calming down their stressed out parents - so when Rachel received the below letter she wanted to pass it on to as many people as possible. This is a really worthy cause, it would be wonderful if Business in Berskhire readers would help out.

Jo's letter:

Six weeks ago our daughter Rebecca fell down the stairs under the stage at the Palladium where she is a chaperone on THE SOUND OF MUSIC. She fell on her head and sustained a serious head injury on the form of bleeding and bruising on her brain. She was rushed in to the Royal London Hospital where she made an excellent recovery and after 12 days she was released. She continued to do very well at home until a week later she became very ill and she was airlifted from the cricket pitch behind our house to the John Radcliffe in Oxford by the Thames Valley Air Ambulance. She had formed a clot on her brain and had a stroke as a result of the pressure. She went into intensive care and……………… was discharged last Tuesday! She is doing really well and it seems likely that there will be no lasting damage. She has a way to go but the recovery so far has been so extraordinary the doctors are amazed by her!

There is no doubt that the prompt action by the Ambulance service in general and the Air Ambulance in particular prevented irreversible damage and possibly even saved her life. So I have decided to do some fund raising since this excellent and vital service is entirely funded through donations and charitable events – there is no government funding. It requires £1.25million per year just to survive. The air ambulance in which Rebecca was taken to hospital was donated by Jackie Onassis and is due to be replaced in 2009 when it will have reached its maximum flying hours.

So I am asking you if you would donate £5.00! Every person that does so will be entered into a prize draw to be made on September 3rd (Rebecca’s 20th
Birthday) by Christina Hibbins - a headteacher in Cookham and Rebecca’s Godmother. The prize will be a week’s holiday (flights not included) in our villa in Florida – have a look at our website - www.florida-sunshine-holidays.com.

Please post your cheques (drawn to the TVAC – not us please) to us at home and write your name and telephone number on the back of the cheque. You may be interested to know that since I started this fundraising effort less than a week ago I have raised £1255! A similar letter has been posted in most of the theatres in London and emailed to dozens of people.

Thank you so much for your support – it is very much appreciated.

Best wishes,

Jo and Tim xxxxx

Joanne and Tim Hawes
21 Westfield Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 5AU