In a heartwarming display of community spirit, the Ripley Tuesday Club has made a significant contribution to a lifesaving local service. Councillor Roland Emmas-Williams recently presented a cheque for £292.72 to Richard Fletcher, the Derbyshire Community Representative for the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance (DLRAA).
A Community Effort for a Critical Cause
The presentation took place during the club's regular weekly meeting, held at the Field Terrace Community Centre in Ripley. The donation was inspired directly by a talk given by Richard Fletcher, who detailed the crucial, life-preserving work undertaken by the air ambulance service across the region.
Choosing Charity Over Cards
Moved by the presentation, the members of the Ripley Tuesday Club collectively decided to channel their festive spirit into fundraising. Instead of exchanging traditional Christmas cards amongst themselves, they pooled their resources. This thoughtful initiative, combined with proceeds from merchandise sales, culminated in the impressive total of £292.72 being raised for the DLRAA.
Richard Fletcher expressed profound gratitude for the club's generosity. "We were delighted to be presented with the money from Ripley Tuesday Club," he said. "DLRAA relies entirely on donations from members of the public, as it receives no Government or National Lottery funding. Therefore, support from people and groups like Ripley Tuesday Club really is invaluable and goes a long way to helping to keep our lifesaving service flying and saving lives."
The Vital Role of the Air Ambulance
Fletcher emphasised the critical nature of the service's operations. "When you’re fighting for your life, every second counts. For us, this makes every mission critical," he explained. The DLRAA, established in 2008, operates every single day of the year. Its teams of critical care paramedics, trauma doctors, and pilots respond to an average of ten to twelve rescue missions daily.
These missions cover a wide range of emergencies, including:
- Serious medical emergencies
- Road traffic collisions
- Sports-related injuries
- Industrial accidents
Funding the Flight for Life
The service's rapid response capability is essential for providing patients with the best possible chance of survival and recovery. However, this capability comes at a considerable cost. "We rely entirely on donations to raise the £2,300 we need to fund each rescue mission," Fletcher stated, underscoring just how vital every single contribution from the community truly is.
The donation from the Ripley Tuesday Club stands as a powerful example of how local groups can directly support the emergency services that protect them, ensuring that the air ambulance remains ready to answer the call whenever and wherever it is needed.
