NEW ROMNEY NEWS

The Kent Air Ambulance Trust is to launch a county wide Christmas card competition for all schools in 2005 after the success of a pilot scheme held at a school in New Romney.

St Nicolas Church of England (Controlled) primary school was approached in February this year to ask if they would like to be the school to try out the competition before it was launched county wide.

Headteacher, Liz Caldwell, jumped at the chance:

“We were delighted when the air ambulance asked us to take part. We have an art week each year in June so the competition tied in perfectly. The children were given an assembly about the Kent Air Ambulance and photos of the helicopter to put up in their classrooms. After that they couldn’t wait to start drawing!”

The rules of the competition were kept simple: each picture must have a Christmassy feel and include the Kent Air Ambulance. After the art week the pictures were collected and taken to the Kent Air Ambulance base in Marden to be judged by a panel of staff and air crew.

The overall winner was 10 year old Jordan Pledge. His design was turned in to a limited edition card and included in the 2004 Christmas card brochure and has been one of the most popular cards sold so far!

Pictured below is Jordan with Gary Balderston, one of the Kent Air Ambulance paramedics, taken when the helicopter visited the school to present Jordan with three packs of his cards and a signed photo of the crew.

If you would like a copy of this years Christmas card brochure please call 01622 833833 or visit www.kentairambulance.com

The Kent Air Ambulance costs about £ 100,000 each month to keep airborne. Receiving no funds from the government or the National Lottery the charity is entirely dependent upon the generosity of the people of Kent.