Golf club raises £23,500 for ambulance

Club captain Rex Norris and the ladies' captain, Sandra Holman, visited the Sussex Air Ambulance base at Dunsfold, near Horsham, to present a cheque to the lifesaving helicopter crew.

The captains both chose Sussex Air Ambulance as their charity of the year for 2008.

Sandra and Rex met the crew of the air ambulance, who showed them around the helicopter and told them about the medical equipment it carried that was used by the doctor and paramedic during life-saving procedures at the scene of medical emergencies.

"We were overwhelmed by the support shown by all our members and local businesses," said Sandra. Rex added: "We chose the Sussex Air Ambulance because we all felt that it was a service that any of us could need at any time."

The air ambulance flew on more than 720 missions last year across Sussex and Surrey. It relies entirely on public donations to keep it flying.

County fundraiser Delaine Shearman said: "This is a huge boost to our fundraising and we are extremely grateful to everyone involved at Haywards Heath Golf Club.

"It costs 4,000 a day to operate this lifesaving service, so this wonderful donation could make a difference to at least 20 people's lives this year."

For golfing results from around the county and more sport see Sporting Odds, West Sussex Gazette January 21