Charities join in life-saving work

The Henry Surtees Foundation, established by John Surtees OBE in memory of his son, will be presenting a cheque for the purchase of all the blood transfusion equipment to the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance to facilitate this new development.

In addition, the foundation has established a partnership with Honda (UK) to provide two new Honda CRV vehicles for SERV (Service by Emergency Rider Volunteers) to ensure all weather transport of blood between hospitals and the Air Ambulance’s bases.

The cars will enable SERV to continue to transport blood whatever the weather. This partnership also reunites the Surtees name with Honda, for whom John drove in Formula 1 during the late 1960s. John remains the only person to have won World Championships in both Grand Prix Motorcycling and Formula 1.

The launch of the new blood transfusion service will take place at the Marden base of the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance on February 4.

Vital blood supplies will be transported from the East Surrey Hospital in Redhill and the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford to the nearby Air Ambulance bases for use on board the charities two helicopters. The Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance will be the first specialist doctor/paramedic air ambulance team outside London to be able to give blood transfusions and will benefit up to 100 patients a year.

NICCI CHRISP

Creative communications Manager, Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance Pattenden Lane, Marden, Kent