Comedy / Great Western Air Ambulance Charity
Heli Laughs lands at Bristol Old Vic for another charity fundraiser
Without day to day government funding, Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) relies heavily on local volunteers, and funding from donations, to keep running.
GWAAC serves 2.1 million people across Bristol, Bath & NE Somerset, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire, and parts of Wiltshire.
They are in operation seven days a week, 365 days a year, with a day team working from 7am to 7pm from a helicopter and a critical care car, and a late team working 1pm-1am from a critical care car.
is needed now More than ever
Their bright green and blue helicopter – known as Helimed 65 – can seat a pilot, a specialist paramedic in critical care, and a critical care doctor alongside a patient (and their parent or guardian), if flying them to the nearer hospital.
This allows the team to respond to emergencies and deliver pre-hospital emergency treatment in the often very challenging circumstances around the scene of an accident, as well as in transit.
The charity aims to be airborne within just four minutes of an emergency call-out, and to arrive at the scene within 20 minutes, wherever in the region it is called to.
As one of the busiest air ambulances in the UK, GWAAC’s impact is undeniable – with over 1,500 missions so far in 2022, and an average of 5+ critically ill or injured patients treated every day.
The second annual fundraiser Heli Laughs returns to Bristol Old Vic on December 5, with 100 per cent of money raised going directly to the charity.
Hosted by award-winning comedian, business speaker and host of The Comedian’s Comedian podcast, Stuart Goldsmith, the night will feature a bumper line up of local and national talent.
Stuart Goldsmith – photo: Matt Crockett
Dani Johns – photo: Jonathan Bowcott
Confirmed acts on the bill include Matt Richardson, Dani Johns, Priya Hall, Morgan Rees, Firuz Osari and Pravanya Pillay.
Standard tickets for the evening are priced at £25, and new for this year’s event, attendees will instead have the option to purchase a £55 VIP package including welcome drinks, canapes and interval refreshments in the Grade 1 listed Cooper’s Hall at Bristol Old Vic.
In drumming up support for the fundraiser, Goldsmith reminds people: “I always like to support a charity that can save me. And it’s at the Old Vic, which is as fine a place to perform stand up comedy as any; it is an absolute joy to play”.
Priya Hall – photo: Belly Laughs
Firuz Ozari – photo: courtesy of GWAAC
Heli Laughs is at Bristol Old Vic on December 5 at 7.30pm, and tickets are available at www.bristololdvic.org.uk. Follow Great Western Air Ambulance Charity @gwaac.
Main photo: GWAAC
Read more: Laughter is the best medicine
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