A massive non-uniform day involving all Shropshire schools is being planned to boost the funds of the Shropshire Star’s Flying Doctor Appeal.
“We’re are hoping to make it the largest non-uniform day there has ever been,” said Sarah Hunter, of Shropshire Ambulance First Emergency Response, which has forged a fundraising link with the County Air Ambulance.
“We are hoping to include all the schools, both primary and secondary, in the Telford & Wrekin and Shropshire areas. We estimate that there are 65,000 children.”
Plans for the county-wide mufti day are in their early stages but already sponsorship has come from a Staffordshire company, European Textiles Recycling.
“They’re going to link up with us and are coming round to the schools to give information on recycling, collecting clothes and donating money to our appeal as well,” said Sarah, who is a geography teacher at Wrockwardine Wood School in Telford.
She will be helped by pupils at her school in the organisation of the event, which is provisionally scheduled for the last day of term before the Easter break, at the end of March.
“Richard Williams, our headmaster, is very keen to support it. He thinks it will be an extremely successful day, raising awareness of the air ambulance, and SAFER, and including the children.”
Sarah is a community first responder with SAFER, whose volunteers attend emergency calls in the local area before the arrival of the ambulance.
“I’m not a paramedic, but we are trained by the ambulance service and carry our own kit, including defibrillators, and attend all emergencies apart from car accidents,” she said.
The mufti day is just one of a number of fundraising ideas in the pipeline.
Students at Wrockwardine Wood School are also working with SAFER and the air ambulance to run fundraising events at this summer’s West Mid Show.
“The main event planned is a design-a-car competition between the secondary schools throughout the region, and a design an A3-sized water jet buggy between the primary schools,” said Sarah.
The Shropshire Star’s Flying Doctor Appeal aims to raise £70,000 to fund a flying doctor for the Shropshire-based air ambulance helicopter, which is kept flying entirely by the generosity of the public. Read all about it here and print off a donation form here.
Keep up to date with the latest news on our Flying Doctor Appeal with local radio stations 107.1 & 106.5 The Severn, and 107.4 Telford FM. There are appeal updates on the stations’ 6pm news.
Have you got something planned to support our Flying Doctor Appeal? Then don’t forget to let us know about it so we can highlight your effort. Drop a line to: Toby Neal, Shropshire Star, Ketley, Telford, Shropshire TF1 5HU, phone (01952) 241458, or e-mail tneal@shropshirestar.co.uk
tneal@shropshirestar.co.uk
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