Air Ambulance Service

[SiH]

Mel does raise a valid point in that it would be nice to 'spread the wealth' so to speak. On the other hand if everyone had procrastinated and not done anything at all, or mucked around trying to find a way to see that everyone got a bit of the pie, then there's a real chance that no-one would have got anything at all. To put it bluntly it's all about catching the wave of public emotion, miss it and it's gone for good. At least this way someone out there has benefited and will hopefully continue to do so.
P.S. Our thoughts are with the hamster and his shiny teeth. Get well soon.

[Oakey]

It's not a 'valid point' as such, just because a 'large' sum of money has been made for one charity doesn't mean the 'wealth' should be shared. That's silly. If a large sum of money has been raised it's because people wanted to donate to that charity because they thought it was a worthwhile cause. How would you feel if you'd donated to a charity / cause only to find out they decided to 'spread the wealth' and part of your donation has gone to something else?

Could you imagine during Live Aid if someone had said to Bob Geldof "Hey Bob, we've raised a few million now, I think the starving of ethopia will be grateful for that, how about we start spreading the wealth to <insert charity>?"

[lord summerisle]

as said earlier - if you want to donate to all the ambulaces - i believe the www.russ-appeal.org.uk has a £5 donation option in the buy a tee page - this money goes to all air ambulances (AFAIK).

[Oakey]

lord summerisle said:

as said earlier - if you want to donate to all the ambulaces - i believe the www.russ-appeal.org.uk has a £5 donation option in the buy a tee page - this money goes to all air ambulances (AFAIK).

See, personally I wouldn't donate through them because I don't like the way they refer to the service as "The Air Ambulance service is our safety net". When Richard Hammond set about doing what he did I doubt he was thinking "It's okay, if I crash an Air Ambulance will save me". I doubt he was even expecting to crash. Referring to it as 'our safety net' sounds a little carefree to me, kind of like "meh, well if anything happens the helicopter will save us". It doesn't really settle with me. But hey, at least they support it with their own appeal.

[SiH]

Oakey said:

It's not a 'valid point' as such, just because a 'large' sum of money has been made for one charity doesn't mean the 'wealth' should be shared. That's silly. If a large sum of money has been raised it's because people wanted to donate to that charity because they thought it was a worthwhile cause. How would you feel if you'd donated to a charity / cause only to find out they decided to 'spread the wealth' and part of your donation has gone to something else?

Could you imagine during Live Aid if someone had said to Bob Geldof "Hey Bob, we've raised a few million now, I think the starving of ethopia will be grateful for that, how about we start spreading the wealth to <insert charity>?"

When I said spread the wealth I meant among all the Air Ambulance services, not different types of charity. Shame that there's no central hub to donate to, kind of like the RNLI of the sky!

[madazrx7]

topboy said:

topboy said:

Maybe we could all use some common sense, calm down, and 1 of us contact the press office at BBC to find out what the family hamsters would like.

Am i missing somthing basic.......

Edited by topboy on Thursday 21st September 12:51

And then perhaps form a commitee and have a meeting to decide on how to raise money and who to give it to?
In the meantime we would have missed the brilliant opportunity to really do something worthwhile. I live on the other side of the world, so wouldn't normally donate to a regional English charity. The reason I have donated in this case is because it directly relates to the Hamster accident.
Top marks to those who made it happen quickly (WVM, Tallbloke, Loach, et al). Nothing to stop anyone making a donation to another charity.

Edited by madazrx7 on Friday 22 September 03:29

[topboy]

madazrx7 said:

topboy said:

topboy said:

Maybe we could all use some common sense, calm down, and 1 of us contact the press office at BBC to find out what the family hamsters would like.

Am i missing somthing basic.......

Edited by topboy on Thursday 21st September 12:51

And then perhaps form a commitee and have a meeting to decide on how to raise money and who to give it to?
In the meantime we would have missed the brilliant opportunity to really do something worthwhile. I live on the other side of the world, so wouldn't normally donate to a regional English charity. The reason I have donated in this case is because it directly relates to the Hamster accident.
Top marks to those who made it happen quickly (WVM, Tallbloke, Loach, et al). Nothing to stop anyone making a donation to another charity.

Edited by madazrx7 on Friday 22 September 03:29

Please let me start by saying I really do not want to offend anyone for the effort and kindness with the donations to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance Service. After all its a very much needed service and is in need of donations to keep running.

Im sure this is being done in good faith and lots of careing, but how do we know that this is what Richard and his family would want.

My point is when something of this nature happens that it's usually common decency to ask the direct relatives where the proceeds should go.

God forbid what if he doesn't pull through this, and his family release a statement saying that Richard's wishes were for all donations to goto another type of charity.

Lets not forget its not just cars & bikes that Richard Hammond is into, he also writes about ecology and travel among other things.

As i said, I'm sure this is being done with all good intentions, but i think we should have thought a little more about where the proceeds go by liasing with the BBC press office first.

Edited by topboy on Friday 22 September 04:27

[tallbloke]

topboy said:

As i said, I'm sure this is being done with all good intentions, but i think we should have thought a little more about where the proceeds go by liasing with the BBC press office first.

It was an idea which met with swift and general approval on the forum at the time, so we went with it. What's done is done, and I make no apologies for being part of raising 30,000 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.


I think we did the right thing by striking while the iron's hot. I'd really like to put this one to bed, so I'll ask when I go down to the hospital this morning whether there are any other causes Richard would like us to start fundraising for.

[ali_kat]

tallbloke said:

topboy said:

As i said, I'm sure this is being done with all good intentions, but i think we should have thought a little more about where the proceeds go by liasing with the BBC press office first.

It was an idea which met with swift and general approval on the forum at the time, so we went with it. What's done is done, and I make no apologies for being part of raising 30,000 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.


I think we did the right thing by striking while the iron's hot. I'd really like to put this one to bed, so I'll ask when I go down to the hospital this morning whether there are any other causes Richard would like us to start fundraising for.

agree completely Rog, what PHers have done here has been from their gut instinct, and from their hearts. Sorry Paul, I can see where you are coming from and its a good point, but I'm sure that the Hammond family will see this and appreciate it.

[ewenm]

tallbloke said:

topboy said:

As i said, I'm sure this is being done with all good intentions, but i think we should have thought a little more about where the proceeds go by liasing with the BBC press office first.

It was an idea which met with swift and general approval on the forum at the time, so we went with it. What's done is done, and I make no apologies for being part of raising 30,000 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.


I think we did the right thing by striking while the iron's hot. I'd really like to put this one to bed, so I'll ask when I go down to the hospital this morning whether there are any other causes Richard would like us to start fundraising for.

Tallbloke - I think that splitting the focus now would be detrimental. The collection for the YAA was prompted by the accident and hopefully will also prompt thoughts among everyone about their local Air Ambulance (the Bath/Somerset one flies over my flat daily on the way to the hospital). Well done again and I hope you are able to deliver the card and best wishes of us all to the hospital this morning.

Edit: In fact, it has just flown over now!

Edited by ewenm on Friday 22 September 10:27

[Oakey]

topboy said:

As i said, I'm sure this is being done with all good intentions, but i think we should have thought a little more about where the proceeds go by liasing with the BBC press office first.

Edited by topboy on Friday 22 September 04:27

By which time the opportunity could very well be missed and instead of raising almost £40k for YAA we may have only raised a few hundred / thousand for another charity.

[CheekyMonkey VZi]

tallbloke said:

It was an idea which met with swift and general approval on the forum at the time, so we went with it. What's done is done, and I make no apologies for being part of raising 30,000 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.


I think we did the right thing by striking while the iron's hot. I'd really like to put this one to bed, so I'll ask when I go down to the hospital this morning whether there are any other causes Richard would like us to start fundraising for.

Tallbloke - my first post on this forum - can I just say that you have done an amazing thing, and that striking while the iron was hot and for the charity concerned was clearly the right thing to do. Well done

I think we're all behind you over at Volkszone

www.volkszone.com/VZi/showthread.php?t=299395&page=14&pp=10

Well done guys !

(Could I add - IMHO it would be a mistake to lose momentum by switching horses - this is big news and people want to be part of it... just my £0.02)

Edited by CheekyMonkey VZi on Friday 22 September 09:54

[JonRB]

Oakey said:

No, I don't know it at all, seeing as mel said himself from a selfish point of view he'd prefer the money had gone to Kent Air Ambulance

When you have had your bollocks shaved for charity and raised a large amount of money then your opinions get more weight.

Edited by JonRB on Friday 22 September 16:17

[fozzi]

I've just donated to the Yorkshire, Kent and Surrey Air Ambulance Services...

and plan to enrole in the lottery that is run on behalf of the Kent, Surrey and Sussex services....
www.kentairambulance.co.uk/lottery_join.aspx

Kent, Surrey and many other Air Ambulance services have donation pages on the justgiving site...
www.justgiving.com/process/CharityGuide/rescue-charities

[RichardB]

I appreciate the arguments being made here but if people want to donate to their local air ambulance there’s nothing stopping them. People are donating to this one because they saved Richards life. It was a great idea started by pistonheads that has spread far beyond anyones expectations. Its no longer a "members of PistonHeads" donation Every car club in the land is backing it and spreading the word.

Good work guys, great idea.

[Oakey]

RichardB said:

I appreciate the arguments being made here but if people want to donate to their local air ambulance there’s nothing stopping them. People are donating to this one because they saved Richards life. It was a great idea started by pistonheads that has spread far beyond anyones expectations. Its no longer a "members of PistonHeads" donation Every car club in the land is backing it and spreading the word.

Good work guys, great idea.

You've been a member almost 4 years and that was your first post?

Where have you been until now?