Fakenham racecourse says thanks for lifesaving air ambulance
The sequel to a lifesaving drama at Fakenham racecourse earlier this year will see a major fundraising effort for the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA), it was announced today.
The meeting on Friday, October 18, will launch the National Hunt season on Sky Sport Racing.
A donation of £5 will be made to the EAAA by the racecourse, at no expense to the racegoers, from every advance ticket bought online from its website before midday Thursday October 17.
Earlier this year, at the March 4 meeting, the EAAA Anglia One crew from Norwich were called out to the racecourse when a racegoer collapsed, suffering a cardiac arrest just before the first race.
A paramedic performed CPR within seconds and the man received immediate expert medical care from the Racecourse medical team before being flown to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital by the EAAA. Happily, the racegoer went on to make a full recovery.
The EAAA provide life-saving emergency medical support by helicopter all over the region, with 40 per cent of its missions taking place in Norfolk.
There will also be a special reception in aid of EAAA for up to 100 guests in the Lancaster Room which overlooks the racecourse, where for £50 per ticket racegoers can enjoy the day’s racing whilst socialising and supporting the life-saving charity over a two-course lunch. The cost will include entry to the grandstand and paddock enclosure, car parking and a racecard
David Hunter, racecourse chief executive, said: “Fakenham Racecourse is delighted and very proud to be supporting the East Anglian Air Ambulance, along with our media partner Sky Sports Racing.
"The work of the air ambulance is vital to the region and anyone of us could need their life saving help at any time of day, and as will soon be the case, or night.
"Norfolk has many people working and pursuing leisure activities in isolated places, often on their own or in small groups, and if something goes wrong it is the intervention of the air ambulance that makes all the difference.
"Fakenham Racecourse has sponsored a mission for the air ambulance at a cost of £3,500 and I implore all Norfolk businesses and companies to get behind this charity and do the same.
"If 286 businesses committed to sponsoring a mission each year that would cover the extra funding needed to provide the night time cover.”
To activate the donation, the code EAAA5 must be entered at the racecourse’s website at the checkout. Ticket prices are: Course Enclosure (£10), Grandstand & Paddock (£15) and Day Member (£20). All children aged 17 and under, accompanied by an adult, go racing free of charge. Tickets can be bought on the day for £10, £18 and £23 but donations to EAAA will only be made for advanced bookings. Gates open from 11am with first race starting at 1.55pm and last of six races taking place at 4.35pm.
To book tickets go to: www.fakenhamracecourse.co.uk and to book a table at the Lancaster Room reception call 01328 862388 x 3.
