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Street appeal parade for Wellington Free Ambulance

Published: Fri 26 Sep 2008 05:10 PM
Street appeal parade for Wellington Free Ambulance


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Street appeal parade for Wellington Free Ambulance
Lambton Quay’s lunchtime crowds were brought to a standstill by blaring sirens as Wellington Free Ambulance’s street appeal parade made its way through the central city today.
The regional emergency ambulance provider has been fundraising around the region since Tuesday and tomorrow marks the last day of the week-long appeal.
The street parade of ambulances, fire appliances, police motorbikes and other emergency response vehicles with their flashing lights and booming sirens bemused onlookers from the Beehive to Courtenay Place.
The week of fundraising got underway in Kapiti on Tuesday with collectors urging locals to dig deep for the region’s free emergency ambulance service.
Over the following days collectors were out in force in the Hutt valley, Johnsonville, Wainuiomata and Wellington City today.
Tomorrow Wellington Free Ambulance collectors will be in Porirua, at the market under the Canopies and Johnsonville. Queensgate Mall in Lower Hutt will also have volunteers collecting for WFA on Saturday.
Fundraising manager James Craw said in previous years the public have been incredibly generous with the street appeal.
“This year we are aiming to raise about $25,000, and judging on the response so far we are confident of reaching this target. We are very grateful to the people of Wellington for their support.”
Each year WFA must raise more than $3 million from the community through fundraising, sponsorship and grants.
“The public expects a free service and we are committed to providing that. While fire and police are fully funded by Government agencies emergency ambulance services are not.”
Wellington Free Ambulance responds to a call for help every ten minutes, and is the only ambulance service in a New Zealand city to provide free-to-patient emergency medical care.
“It is only through the continued support of the Greater Wellington Community that we can provide this vital service, for free.”
ENDS

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