Following on from his testimonial, Weston-super-Mare AFC club legend Bob Flaskett visited the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity to present them with a cheque for £1000.

Bob, the groundsman at Weston AFC for over 20 years, chose to donate a percentage of the proceeds from his testimonial to GWAAC, North Somerset’s local air ambulance charity.

Attending an average of five patients every day, their critical care team attend to the most seriously ill or injured and can only keep flying because of the generosity of the public as they receive no day-to-day government funding.

Bob and Weston-super-Mare AFC Club Director Alex Crowther were invited for a tour around the GWAAC base, where they presented them with the cheque.

GWAAC’s priority is to get to the patient fast, bringing the level of care and specialist equipment only usually found in a hospital.

The crew respond to the most serious of incidents, from cardiac arrests to road traffic collisions and can perform a range of lifesaving interventions which are not available in a standard land ambulance.

These can include blood transfusions, anaesthesia, amputations, and even certain heart surgeries.

GWAAC have experienced a record number of call-outs in the first six months of 2024, being called out 1,159 times. Compared to the same period in 2023, the number of callouts has increased by 201, an increase of around 21% (1,159 v 958).

That’s an extra person they are being called out to every day on average. Coupled with this, operating costs have been increasing and their average cost per mission is now around £2,200 – a 10% increase.

When asked about the donation, Bob said: “It was great to visit Great Western Air Ambulance Charity with Alex (Crowther) and donate £1000 from the proceeds of my testimonial.

“Many thanks to everyone who made it so special for myself and the wonderful Air Ambulance”

Great Western Air Ambulance Charity Supporter Engagement Coordinator, Philippa Walker, said: “It was an absolute pleasure to show Bob and Alex around our base, following Bob’s decision to support GWAAC in his testimonial at Weston AFC this year.

“A huge thank you to Bob for choosing GWAAC to donate to and, in doing so, helping to spread awareness of the life-saving work our crew do in Weston-super-Mare and beyond.”