Fun fundraising for children on a life-saving mission

Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance has launched Heli Heroes, a new schools’ challenge designed to inspire pupils, support real-world learning and raise vital funds to help save more local lives.

Created as part of the charity’s wider Mission Possible 2 campaign, Heli Heroes invites schools across the region to take part in fun, flexible fundraising while learning about the life-saving work of the air ambulance.

Mission Possible 2 aims to support the launch of a second helicopter, helping the charity reach more patients, more quickly, across Lincolnshire Nottinghamshire and surrounding communities.

The campaign brings curriculum-linked learning to life through topics including aviation, medicine, emergency response, geography and teamwork. Participating schools will receive lesson plans, assembly materials, classroom activities, fundraising ideas, reward stickers and challenges to help pupils connect their learning with a real-life local mission.

During the autumn term, pupils will be encouraged to put their learning into action through activities such as bake sales, sponsored challenges, Wear Yellow days, STEM and aviation-themed activities, school assemblies and awareness days.

Schools can choose fundraising ideas that work around their timetable, making it easy for pupils, staff and families to get involved. Whether schools go big or keep things simple, every contribution will help fund a service that provides critical care to people across the region, says the charity.

Mandy Wright, Deputy Headteacher at St Botolph’s School, in Quarrington, Sleaford, said: “As Deputy Headteacher, school council lead and the school’s charity fundraising lead, I am

passionate about helping our pupils support causes that matter to our local community.

“Three years ago, we decided we wanted to focus on a charity that was important to our local area. So many of the children see the air ambulance when they go to Lincoln, and they all understand what ambulances do, so learning about an air ambulance that helps people in our local community felt special to us.

“We also have a member of staff for whom the air ambulance means a great deal for personal reasons, so it was important to us to show our support. Every year, we hold a ‘Hello Yellow Day’, where we wear yellow and gather as a school to talk about the air ambulance and its work. We also really enjoyed making yellow flowers for the air ambulance’s tulip parade float.”

Vicki Lorriman-Hughes, LNAA Education Fundraising Officer said: “It’s fantastic to see so many primary schools already getting involved and helping us work towards our goal of bringing a second helicopter into service for our region.

“Alongside fundraising, children can explore, discover and learn more about the lifesaving work of the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance. Our fantastic range of engaging and inclusive educational resources, available for all participating schools, includes games, lesson ideas and class challenges, all linked to maths, science, geography, STEM and teamwork.”

There is still time for schools to register for the Heli Heroes challenge. For more information or to register interest, visit https://www.ambucopter.org.uk/heroes/