A cheque for £1,070 has been presented to the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance.

The charity was the chosen cause of the chair of Newark and Sherwood District Council, Coun Celia Brooks.

The money was raised through her work on behalf of the charity, supported by the collective efforts of Newark and Sherwood District Council staff, councillors, and Edwinstowe Parish Council through seasonal raffles and a cake sale.

Celia said: “During my tenure as chair, I was keen to promote the fantastic work of Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance.

“I chose them because any resident, regardless of age or ability, may be in need of their service one day.

“I think the amount raised for such a worthy cause really demonstrates the kindness of all of those who got involved and donated. My thanks goes to them all.”

While in office, the chair of the council supports a charity of their choosing. They collaborate with the selected charity to raise awareness about its cause and actively participate in fundraising activities.

Steph Bradshaw, community fundraising manager, of the charity, said: “As a charity, we rely heavily on fundraisers like Coun Brooks to keep our helicopter flying and our critical care cars operational.

“A heartfelt thank you goes to everyone who donated — your contributions make these lifesaving missions possible.”

“We attend on average four potentially lifesaving missions a day. Your support means we can operate 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, and we receive no government or NHS funding for our daily missions.”

The Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance covers 3,500sq miles and has embarked on more than 28,000 lifesaving missions since its inception in 1994.

Operating without direct government funding and facing £13m in operational costs, the charity relies solely on the generosity of donations to maintain its critical services.

Funds raised directly contribute to the charity’s ongoing expenses, including aircraft maintenance, medical equipment, and crew training, ensuring that the highly-skilled doctors, paramedics, and pilots can continue to provide the best possible chance of survival to those critically ill or injured in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.

Celia added: “Anyone wishing to find out more information about the charity or how to donate can do so by visiting www.ambucopter.org.uk.”