Teddy bear's picnic for Radio Devon's Air Ambulance appeal

IF you went down to the Mid Devon Showground on Saturday you were in for a

big surprise.

BBC Radio Devon hosted a teddy bears' picnic to raise money for their

charity of the year, the Devon Air Ambulance.

Among the activities to enjoy were a bouncy castle, tombola, naming a teddy,

and getting an opportunity to be live on radio with Michael Chequer.

BBC Radio Devon's managing editor Mark Grinnell said: "There's lots

going on here today — everybody's brought their teddy bear, the sun is shining,

and crucially we're raising money for the air ambulance appeal.

“What we’re trying to do is get every Radio Devon listener in the county to

donate £1.50, and that will get us to our target of £600,000 and enable us to

buy a brand new aircraft for North Devon”

Presenter Alison Johns added: “I don’t need to tell people in this area how

vital the service is. Let’s hope you don’t know the Air Ambulance, but if you

do, it’s there for you, it’s a charity, and it needs our money.”

The event also marked the charity’s 18th anniversary, and several

patients of the Air Ambulance came and joined in the celebrations.

The very first person to be airlifted was Doreen Baker from Berkshire. She

said: “I broke my ankle, and without the Air Ambulance I don’t think we’d have

got out of Becky Falls.

“It was the first ever accident that I’d had and I just feel very grateful

they were there.

“Today has been a wonderful day out. I haven’t been in Devon since 1992, and

it’s lovely to come back.”

Helena Holt, chief executive of the Devon Air Ambulance Trust, added:

"It's fantastic to see lots of patients, volunteers and members of the

public supporting the event.

"Me and my son have had great fun. We’ve been here for over three hours

and he’s had plenty to keep him entertained."

It was also a good day for Pinky the bear as she was named as the best teddy

by judges Mark Grinnell, and Devon Air Ambulance’s Nigel Hare.

Chloe Snell, 3, who owns Pinky said: “It’s very nice to have the best bear.

I think she was the prettiest bear.”

Clinical support officer of the Devon Air Ambulance Nigel Hare added: “I

think teddy bears should be cuddly, sweet, and bears you’d want to see and

Pinky bear had all of that.

“I couldn’t believe how many different types of teddy bears there were.

There were teddy bears, teddy seals, teddy elephants and all sorts of different

things that are cuddly , but teddy bears still win me over every time.”

The Devon Air Ambulance needs £4m a year to operate its two helicopters airborne

throughout the year.

Money raised by the appeal will facilitate the ordering of a new EC135, to

replace the current leased aircraft.

You can donate to the BBC Radio Devon Air Ambulance appeal by clicking HERE,

or by phoning 01392 466666.