West Coast raises $50,000 for chopper

West Coast raises more than $50,000 to support the Solid Energy Rescue Helicopter service

West Coasters’ efforts have raised more than $50,000 for the Solid Energy Rescue Helicopter this year.

Around New Zealand, May is Westpac Rescue Helicopter Awareness Month and on the West Coast people from the Rotary clubs, local businesses, schools and helicopter sponsors Solid Energy and Westpac have all contributed to the month-long annual fundraising effort.

More than $6,500 was collected during the 21 May Street Appeal, with Rotary club members, school children and teachers along the Coast assisting. Another $10,900 was raised from collections in South Westland, the Solid Energy Rescue Helicopter Open Day, through collection buckets hosted by businesses and other events held in the region during the month. Fundraising by Solid Energy West Coast staff resulted in more than $16,500 in donations from individuals and companies. In Christchurch, Solid Energy staff worked with people from Westpac to raise more than $6,900 for the Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust. More than $16,900 was donated over the last year by visitors to Stockton Opencast Mine with Outwest Tours.

In Greymouth, Solid Energy’s Anna Nolan and Pete Caddle, of Westpac, presented a cheque to Air Rescue Trust representative, Trevor Watts, and Solid Energy Rescue Helicopter pilot, Angus Taylor.

Public donations and business sponsorship support are vitally important to the service, as payments from ACC and hospitals cover only 40% of the Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust’s operational costs.

Solid Energy Communications Director, Vicki Blyth, says, “The number of companies that continue to support our efforts with fundraising for the service is overwhelming. We take this as acknowledgement of how important West Coasters see the service provided by the rescue helicopter.”

Based in Greymouth, the Solid Energy Rescue Helicopter operates from Karamea to Haast and is one of Solid Energy’s major community support initiatives. It has been operating since 1997 and Solid Energy became the major sponsor in 2001. The service is a partnership between the Trust, the Order of St John and Garden City Helicopters Ltd, which also operates the Westpac Rescue Helicopter and New Zealand Flying Doctor Service out of Christchurch.

ENDS

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