Donation will help charity continue to save lives

Updated: 28 Jan 2025

North Gloucestershire Oddfellows has provided Midlands Air Ambulance Charity with a £2,000 funding boost to help its pre-hospital emergency service save lives.

The friendship group, which has more than 400 mostly older and retired local members, presented a cheque to the charity at its store at Gloucester’s Eastgate Shopping Centre on Wednesday 8 May.

Lifesaving charity

Each year the group’s Chairman chooses a charity they want to support. Now outgoing Chairman, Rene Tourtel-MacMahon, said: “Midlands Air Ambulance Charity provides a vital, lifesaving service for the people not only here in Gloucestershire, but also in Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire and the West Midlands and is funded completely through donations such as this.

“I’m proud that we’re in a position to help by handing over this donation.”

Rene Tourtel-MacMahon hands over a cheque to the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity

It costs between £13-14m to maintain the charity’s three aircraft, fleet of critical care cars and to provide its pre-hospital emergency service every year. Each air ambulance mission costs an average of £2,950, while a critical care car mission costs an average of £288.

Nicole Beebee, Gloucester Fundraising Executive for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, added: “It is thanks to the generosity of those in our local communities that we are able to continue providing our lifesaving pre-hospital emergency service.

“A huge thanks to all at North Gloucestershire Oddfellows for helping to make six missions possible in our fleet of critical care cars.”

More on the Oddfellows

North Gloucestershire Oddfellows is one of 99 nationwide branches that make up the Oddfellows friendly society, one of the oldest and largest of its kind in the UK. We aim to improve people’s lives through friendship and support.

As well as providing charitable support, North Gloucestershire Oddfellows hosts a range of affordable and accessible events in and around the area which are open to all.

Oddfellows members can also access a variety of benefits including care and welfare support and a travel club, as well as take up opportunities to volunteer.

Development Officer at North Gloucestershire Oddfellows, Alex Walker, said: “There’s something for everyone here and we’re a really friendly bunch.

“Anyone interested in finding out more about us should get in touch with me or come down to one of our brilliant events. You’ll be sure of a warm welcome.”

Alex can be contacted via email on NorthGlos@oddfellows.co.uk or by calling 01452 905 010.

If you're based elsewhere in the UK you can find your closest Oddfellows branch by using out Branch Finder. 

Contact us if you'd like to find out more.

To find out more about the lifesaving service provided by Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, you can visit its website.