Derbyshire community group’s life-saving donation demonstrates local generosity

A vital service for getting patients potentially life saving support more quickly across the region has benefited from the work of a Castle-Donington based group.

Love Castle Donington raised a much needed £3,200 for the Air Ambulance service after hosting its first Charity Ball in Late April 2024.  According to organisers, the money raised has the potential to fund a flight as well as providing funds for equipment.  

Emma Prosser, who was born and raised in Castle Donington and sits on the Love Castle Donington committee, said: “The Air Ambulance is a charity that is close to the heart of one of our committee members.   

“With the committee’s support for this worthy cause, combined with this close connection, we decided that the Air Ambulance should be the beneficiary of our charity work through our first ever Ball.”  

Attended by 72 local people, businesses and friends, the event, which was held at The Priest House in Castle Donington, included a fund-raising raffle, auction and the services of a caricaturist who asked for donations to the charity for his completed work.

Handing over a cheque for a whopping £3,200 to Air Ambulance representative, Tracey Jones, Emma said: “When we met Tracey, she told us that a tremendous £2,300 was required for each Air Ambulance flight, on average.  It is such a wonderful feeling to know our efforts as a community have been able to fund a mission as well as some equipment for this worthy cause and its life saving work.

“It gives us immense pride to have put on an amazing event that has raised such a considerable amount of money for charity.  We are so thankful to our sponsors, attendees and the people and businesses who donated so many prizes for the event, their generosity is just amazing, and we are thrilled to have presented such a sizable sum to charity.”

The group is no stranger to supporting local causes while putting on events for the community.  Last year they organised a Tea Dance, raising £160 for the Royal British Legion.  Their next event, on Saturday 22nd June, is an Open Gardens event, during which funds will be raised for the local community food bank and sight loss charity Vista.

Emma added: “We have been asked to do another ball next year.”

The eight-strong committee, which is made up of local business owners, an accountant, author, event coordinators, mums and retirees, are now getting together to work out the feasibility of this and to decide on the next worthy cause.  

To find out more about Love Castle Donington and upcoming local events, visit www.lovecastledonington.co.uk or Facebook page www.facebook.com/lovecastledonington