On February 8th, the St Mawes Ferry hosted a special free charity day supporting the Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust.

Throughout the day, passengers enjoyed complimentary ferry trips while having the opportunity to donate to this vital local service and their Heli2 appeal and engage directly with Air Ambulance staff and volunteers about their lifesaving work.

It was fascinating and inspiring to learn about the exceptional skills, mental resilience, and physical fitness required by the Air Ambulance team and to understand precisely what happens when they respond to emergencies across Cornwall.

Staff and volunteers on board the Duchess of Cornwall collected donations and spoke to passengers about the work of this much loved local charity.

This cause holds special significance for us, as several staff members and crew have personal connections to the charity. We were eager to give back and help raise awareness of the Air Ambulance team's essential service to our community.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our passengers, we're delighted to announce that we raised an impressive £1,301.70!

We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to making this a memorable day and for your generous donations. Special appreciation goes to the Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust for coming aboard and creating an experience that everyone will remember.

Will Dammerell - Critical Care Paramedic, Ryan Watts and Katharine Langley from Fal River, Dr Dan Bawden - Critical Care Doctor, Paul Maskell - Specialist Paramedic Critical Care

Cornwall Air Ambulance provides pre-hospital emergency care to those who are critically ill or injured across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

The crew are tasked with over 1,000 missions every year, and are operational for 19 hours a day, 365 days a year. The Critical Care Paramedics and Doctors carry a range of advanced medical kit, including specialist drugs and blood products.

  Paul Maskell - Specialist Paramedic Critical Care        The Duchess of Cornwall helicopter

The charity receives no government funding and relies on the generosity of the people of Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly, and beyond to keep running. All the funds raised make a lifesaving difference, going towards keeping the helicopter flying and making sure the crew can continue to attend those in urgent need of critical care.

  If you'd like to donate to the Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust, or find out more about their Heli2 appeal, you can do so here