A DEDICATED Marston Green volunteer has been handed a top award for her efforts for the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity.
Elspeth Martin was bestowed the Charity Volunteer Award at the charity’s Recognition Awards and Charity Ball event.
The event, sponsored by Halesowen-based IT company, EBC Group, saw many of the charity’s committed supporters, volunteers, fundraisers and lifesaving aircrew come together to raise funds and recognise those who make a difference.
Among them was 91-year-old Elspeth who was described as ‘a great community ambassador and the face of Midlands Air Ambulance Charity in her local area. Elspeth has volunteered for the charity for more than 25 years and in that time has helped raised a phenomenal £50,000.
In 2020 Elspeth was awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for her charitable services to the lifesaving, rapid-response emergency service.
Other winners include Dr Mark Nash, medical director, and pre-hospital emergency medicine doctor at the charity who was awarded the Crew Award, sponsored by Airbus, for his exceptional work.
The Star Award, sponsored by Gama Aviation was awarded to West Midlands Fire Service fundraising in memory of Iain Hughes.
Iain Hughes, a crew manager at Wednesbury Fire Station, had been raising funds for The Fire Fighters’ Charity, British Heart Foundation and Midlands Air Ambulance Charity by swimming the English Channel. He began his swim on in June 2023 accompanied by a support boat, he later went missing in the water and sadly his body was found
Iain’s colleagues at West Midlands Fire Service held various fundraising events to help Iain exceed his £21,000 target. 18 car washes were held across the service’s fire stations in his honour raising more than £80,00 and a 36-hour indoor swim relay fundraiser in March also raised £5,500 within the first day of the two-day challenge.
Dr David Balthazor, and critical care paramedics, Colin Shurrock-Apps, Grant Salsby and Kerry Hemus were handed the Special Incident Award, sponsored by EBC Group.
Judges said the crew’s teamwork and quick intervention in a complex road traffic collision saved the life of a three-year-old female. The youngster had suffered a traumatic brain injury and required lifesaving intervention on scene.
Other categories included Charity Shop Volunteer, Community Fundraiser Award and Corporate Partnership Award.
In addition to recognising individuals and organisations that have made a significant difference to the charity over the past 12 months, the evening also raised a record breaking £84,080 for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s pre-hospital emergency service.
This amount will help make 55 lifesaving missions possible – 26 via air ambulance and 29 in the organisation’s fleet of critical care cars.
Emma Gray, chief operating officer for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, said: “As a pre-hospital emergency service founded within the communities we serve, we are extremely proud of all our deserving winners from this year’s Recognition Awards and Charity Ball who have helped to raise awareness of our charitable status and funds to ensure we can operate continue making missions possible.
“We appreciate the support we receive from all our fundraisers, volunteers, donors and corporate partners across the counties we serve and would like to congratulate all our winners on the night.”
