THE newest member of Wiltshire Air Ambulance’s (WAA) fundraising team is suffering from an identity crisis, and needs the public’s help.
The charity’s new recruit, a paramedic bear mascot, will be at events all over the county promoting the WAA charity, starting next week during national Air Ambulance Week.
The altruistic bear needs a name however, and the WAA is running an online competition to find the best name, starting at 6pm on Thursday, September 15, and closing at midnight on Sunday, September 18.
Entries can be made on the charity’s Facebook and Twitter links, which can be found at facebook.com/wiltshireairambulance and twitter.com/WiltsAirAmbu
The winner will be invited to meet the mascot at the charity’s Operations Centre in Devizes.
It costs £3.25m a year to keep the air ambulance flying, which works out at £8,904 per day, so fundraising is essential for the charity.
Rebecca de la Bedoyere, senior fundraising manager at WAA, said: “We are excited about having our own mascot and we’d like to thank Soft Options Water Softeners Ltd for kindly sponsoring it.
“Just like us, they are an organization that is firmly rooted here in Wiltshire, and they have brought plenty of ideas and enthusiasm to the partnership.
“Our mascot is fun, eye-catching and will play a major role in the many fundraising and community events we attend across Wiltshire throughout the year.
“Its design is based on our paramedic teddy bear cuddly toy and paramedic key ring, which are popular items of our merchandise.
“Our mascot has its own diary, so if you are holding a fundraising event for WAA please contact us and, subject to availability, our mascot could be in attendance.
“But before our mascot can start work we need a name for it. If you’ve got an idea for a name, please enter our online competition.”
The mascot is sponsored by Soft Options Water Softeners Ltd, a family run business based in Burbage near Marlborough.
Alison Cook and Simon Neate, directors of Soft Options Water Softeners Ltd, said: “The mascot looks fantastic and we are proud to be sponsoring it.
“Having lived in Wiltshire all our lives we know of the good work and excellent service provided by Wiltshire Air Ambulance.
“We feel it is such a privilege to work with the charity and give something back to the community.”
For more information on the air ambulance, visit wiltshireairambulance.co.uk
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