£62,000+ raised so far for new ambulance

Tuesday 25 September 2018

Fundraising efforts to buy a new emergency ambulance are going so well that it could be bought within a few months.

St John Ambulance and Rescue Service has been trying to raise the money to buy the vehicle throughout this year and have already raised more than £62,000.

The money has been raised through donations and contributions via fundraising events, and despite raffle tickets being stolen the money has continued to add up.

Chief Officer of the St John Emergency Ambulance Service, Ali Marquis, said she was very grateful to everyone who has contributed in whatever way.

“I am delighted to report that we have already raised more than £62,000 so far this year. We could not do it without so many people who work hard to put together events such as this weekend’s charity concert and other fundraising initiatives.”

Speaking at a charity concert held at St James on Saturday night Mrs Marquis also paid tribute to the hardworking team at the St John Emergency Ambulance Service.

“I have to thank all my staff who truly do provide an ambulance service which is ‘first to care’,” she said.

“We have recently undertaken a patient experience survey, completed by patients who have used the emergency ambulance service, and I am delighted to report that in answer to the question ‘overall how would you describe the service you received?’

“90% said excellent, 8% said very good, 0.5% said good, another 0.5% said fair and the remaining 1% answered that they did not know”.

Pictured: Ali Marquis, Chief Officer of St John Ambulance and Rescue Service. 

Mrs Marquis also thanked all the performers who took part in the concert, which included GU10, Jump the Douit, The Guernsey Welsh Male Voice Choir and Bel Canto, as well as the ambulance staff and volunteers who helped the evening run smoothly and all the businesses who supported the event, especially Jacksons who sponsored the event and Ray & Scott who donated the Heart of Guernsey diamond pendent for the auction.

The emergency ambulance fundraising appeal received lots of donations at the start of the year when people renewed their annual Supporters Scheme Subscription and there have been further generous contributions from a number of local businesses, organisations and individuals in the months since.  

Emergency ambulance staff organised a CPR Marathon at Beau Sejour earlier this year, which was supported by local companies, schools and youth groups. A grand raffle has also been running during the summer with tickets sold at various venues around the island during the summer. 

Mrs Marquis added, “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who supported all these event and the businesses that have donated raffle and auction prizes.”

Some raffle ticket stubs were taken when thieves broke in to the cafe at Saumarez Park last month, but they were all replaced by the Ambulance service.

Pictured: Raffle tickets were stolen earlier this month as reported by Express here. 

The new ambulance vehicle will provide a modern mobile treatment centre for clinicians working in the pre-hospital environment and allow paramedics to deliver advanced skills in the emergency setting. It is hoped that the new emergency ambulance will be delivered to the service during the spring next year.

Pictured top: File image of an ambulance, similar to one on the ambulance service wish list.