A SOLDIER with first-hand experience of the region’s air ambulance service has urged residents to get behind the charity’s annual fundraising and awareness week.
Rowan Fowler, from Durham, was airlifted from Warcop Training Area in Cumbria by the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) last year.
The soldier was carrying out daily duties when a tailgate that was being attached to an army lorry dropped on her head and she sustained severe head injuries.
Miss Fowler said: “I was knocked out straight away, the next thing I remember is being cared for by the GNAAS team.”
The 23-year-old was unconscious for 45 minutes and was airlifted to James Cook University Hospital by the Great North Air Ambulance Service with a fractured skull.
Now recovered, Miss Fowler has pledged her support to the charity, which needs to raise £4m a year to fund its service. She is encouraging others to get behind GNAAS during its annual Air Ambulance Week.
Miss Fowler said: “The charity is just amazing. I hope Air Ambulance Week brings the service into people’s minds, because it is about drumming up as much support as possible. All my fellow soldiers support the service because we know just how crucial it can be.”
Air Ambulance Week runs until Sunday. The charity hopes to enlist a 100 regular givers and had more than 50 signed up by Thursday morning. Pilot bears are being given to new regular givers and existing givers that increase their monthly donations during the month of September.
Mandy Drake, head of fundraising at GNAAS said: “It’s great to hear Rowan has made a full recovery, and we’re extremely pleased that she has backed our campaign.”
To sign up from £2 a month, please call 01325 487 263 or visit www.greatnorthairambulanceservice.co.uk/aaw
Share
