Fergus boost for air medicsposted in BTCC21 | 08 | 2013
SCOTS RACER FERGUS WALKINSHAW will be flying the colours for Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) when he fires up his Ginetta G55 at Knockhill this weekend.
The 22-year-old, the son of the late, great Tom Walkinshaw — whose robust, take-no-prisoners approach to business and motorsport endeared him to many — has committed to helping raise the £29,000 it takes each week to run the SCAA service.
“It’s great to be working with Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance while racing at Knockhill," Walkinshaw said.
"The SCAA provide a vital service across Scotland, but it costs £1.5 million per year to run and receives no government funding.
"I’m hoping Ginetta and BTCC fans will support SCAA and text to donate £5 to help keep saving lives across Scotland.”
Walinshaw is asking BTCC fans to support SCAA by texting ‘SCAA 01’ to 70070. In doing so, BTCC fans can donate £5 to help meet the charity’s £29,000 weekly fundraising target. Just 100 donation texts will fund the fuel for one life-saving mission.
Launched in May 2013, the charity air ambulance has already flown over 100 missions from its base at Perth Airport, covering a wide variety of emergencies.
The service’s main strength is responding in time-critical situations, or where a patient faces a lengthy and uncomfortable transfer to hospital by road ambulance, and it can fly patients to all major receiving hospitals in Scotland.
"As Scotland's only charity air ambulance, we look forward to welcoming Fergus, as the Association of Air Ambulances Motorsport Advocate, to our base," Gavin Davey, the charity’s chief executive, said.
"We are also extremely grateful to Fergus for 'flying’ Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance branding on his racecar at Knockhill and wish him every success.
"We also urge motorsport enthusiasts to back his call to support SCAA which is funded solely by public donations.
"Our helicopter air ambulance is available to respond to remote and time-critical emergencies 10 hours a day, seven days a week, all made possible by their support."
Walkinshaw, from the Mauldslie Estate, South Lanarkshire, heads to Knockhill determined to regain lost championship points in the Michelin Ginetta GT Supercup following a disappointing last outing at Snetterton.
Although forced to record two non-finishes due to a loss of power with a Ginetta loan engine, his FW Motorsport team installed and tested a rebuilt engine within five days of the Norfolk event.
“I always enjoy racing at Knockhill and to be at my native home event with my own team means a lot," Walkinshaw continued.
"We ran out of luck at Snetterton, but we’re determined to bounce back stronger with the rebuilt engine and put in some strong finishes in Scotland.”
For further information on how to support Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance visit www.scaa.org.uk
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Jim McGill