Ellesmere Comrades Sports and Social Club has come up with a knockout idea to raise cash for the Shropshire Star’s Flying Doctor Appeal.

Darts players will be in action with a darts knockout, with an entry fee of £1 per player, on March 2.

“We have also got raffle prizes and that sort of thing, and a name-the-doll competition, at £1 a go,” said Jenny Keever, club steward. “We’re going to make a night of it.”

Further fundraising events could follow.

“We are going to see how it goes, and what interest we get, and if it’s a good night we will have some more.”

Mrs Keever added: “I used to have a pub in Cross Houses, the Fox Inn, and some of the old customers are coming up to play the darts players at the club.

“We’re just hoping to get some money together for your Flying Doctor Appeal.”

The evening at the club, which is in Victoria Street, Ellesmere, starts at 7.30pm on Friday.

The Flying Doctor Appeal aims to raise £70,000 to fund a Flying Doctor to join the crew of the Shropshire-based air ambulance. It is a specific, targeted appeal on top of the “normal” fundraising for the air ambulance, and cash for the Flying Doctor Appeal should be sent to the address on the donation form which we are publishing regularly.

The Flying Doctor would take the helicopter’s on-board medical capabilities to new heights, by being able to perform life-saving procedures at the scene of emergencies that the current paramedics are not permitted to do.

* Read all about our appeal here and print off a donation form here.

* 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