Life saving volunteers in Eccleshall are appealing for sponsorship to help raise funds for a new emergency vehicle.
The Eccleshall Community First Responders are trying to raise money for a new ambulance vehicle to help save lives in the local area.
The self-funded group is worried that its current 4×4 vehicle won’t last much longer so is on the lookout for new funds.
Treasurer Jan Watson said: “Three years ago we replaced a 12-year-old car with the vehicle we have now but this one is now eight years old.
“We really need a new, reliable vehicle that can deal with conditions similar to what we have now.
“If we are called out in the snow at 2am our vehicle has to be able to start first time.
“We have been fundraising now for two years to try and raise enough money – we are almost there but it’s very costly.”
The First Responders are trained to deal with all types emergencies. Last year they were called out over 400 times.
Jan said she believed the Eccleshall branch struggled for finance due to the lack of big business in the area.
She said: “As an organisation we are completely self funded. Because we are only a small town we don’t have a lot of businesses who are able to donate large sums of money.
“Really we are stuck between a rock and a hard place because a lot of the big firms are in Stafford and they don’t need us because they have an ambulance station there.
“But our community does us proud. We’re going to need around £20,000 for a new car and then it could be an extra £1,000 for a blue light and £500 on top of that to get it fitted. It is very expensive.”
Jan’s husband Martin volunteers as a Community First Responder.
Anyone interested in donating money or sponsoring the First Responders can do so by emailing him at martin@eccleshallcfrs.org.uk.
By Joseph Masi