The North West Air Ambulance Charity (NWAA) has received a significant boost thanks to a generous donation from the East Lancashire Mark Benevolent Fund and the East Lancashire Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons. The donation of £52,573 will directly fund the charity’s newest critical care car, ensuring its specialist crew can continue to provide lifesaving emergency medical care to those in urgent need across the region.
To mark the occasion, members of the East Lancashire Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons, along with a Trustee of the Mark Benevolent Fund, were invited to see the newly funded vehicle. A formal cheque presentation was held, recognising the incredible contribution made by the Freemason community.
The NWAA critical care cars play an essential role in delivering pre-hospital care, particularly when the charity’s helicopters are unable to fly due to adverse weather conditions, geographical restrictions, or during nighttime emergencies. Staffed by an expert team of doctors and critical care paramedics, these vehicles bring hospital-level treatment directly to patients at the scene of an incident, saving countless lives every year.
Malcolm McCarthy, Secretary of the East Lancashire Mark Benevolent Fund, said: “The Mark Benevolent Fund is delighted to be part of the growth of this wonderful charity. Our Trustees recognise the huge importance of our secondary emergency services and how providing the new ‘Critical Care Car’ will be imperative in saving lives throughout the North West.”
NWAA representatives were honoured to attend The Mark Benevolent Fund’s Annual Charity Review 2024 at Freemasons’ Hall in London, where they had the opportunity to thank the members for their incredible generosity. The event brought together charities from across the UK that had received funding over the past year, offering a valuable platform for networking and engagement.
Emily Carpenter, Trusts and Foundations Fundraiser at NWAA, shared her gratitude: “My colleague and I were delighted to attend this prestigious event. The generosity of the East Lancashire Mark Benevolent Fund in supporting our application to the national Mark Benevolent Fund has directly enabled us to expand our lifesaving service.
“As a charity that receives no government or NHS funding, we rely entirely on the generosity of local communities and organisations to keep our helicopters and critical care cars operational.”
To find out more about how you can support NWAA, please visit this link.