Northland Electricity Helicopter Appeal Update.

Northland Electricity Helicopter Appeal Update

Eight weeks into the 2007 Electricity Rescue Helicopter Appeal Northlanders have raised $94,900. That's $5,000 more than at the same time during last year's Appeal. Although this is an excellent result so far it's still short of the $150,000 Appeal target.

The rescue helicopter service costs millions of dollars each year to run. And with operator, the Northland Emergency Services Trust receiving no government funding it relies on the generosity of the Northland community to maintain its service.

At the start of this year's Appeal the Electricity Rescue Helicopter had carried out 627 missions, which is well above the average number for the year to date. It is predicted that the number of missions in 2007 will be 10 percent higher than in 2006.

Last year's Appeal raised a record $345,000, which included a dollar-for-dollar top-up of an additional $150,000, by joint sponsors Top Energy and Northpower. Whatever amount the public donates this year, Top Energy and Northpower will again match it dollar-for-dollar up to an additional $150,000.

The remaining official donation forms were delivered to household letterboxes this week. In addition to using these forms, or making a donation at any Northland ASB Bank, people can text the word CHOPPER to 4483 from their mobile phone and $3 will automatically be transferred to the Appeal fund until October 31 2007.

The newly introduced mobile phone texting option of this year's campaign has been very successful, with around 40 texts being received each day.

Come on board Northland! Send in your donation form, make a donation at any Northland ASB Bank or get texting - to help keep our chopper in the air.

ENDS

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