Outreach Paramedics fundraising events in Cornwall

Outreach Paramedics, are a newly established non-profit organisation with an aim to provide ambulances, medical aid and volunteer HCPC registered paramedics to deliver medical relief in response to humanitarian crises.

Predominantly made up of paramedics, the organisation also has doctors and nurses, actors, administrators and website developers who all volunteer their time.

The war in Ukraine has taken the lives of many and caused mass displacement and casualties.

One of the ongoing issues is the heart-breaking number of homeless mothers giving birth prematurely due to stress.

The hospitals simply do not have the number of incubators required or ambulances on hand to transport neonates and to effectively care for these babies.

Outreach Paramedics are now fundraising with the aim £15,000 to purchase an ambulance fit for neonatal care, an incubator, and other urgent neonatal medical supplies.

The organisation hopes the equipment will help provide life-saving care to families urgently in need in Ukraine.

A spokesperson for Outreach Paramedics said: "We have managed to raise over £6,000 in total via JustGiving, several 'Highway Hold-ups' in Cornwall and other donations from various organisations and individuals who have noticed our efforts and cause.

"We are lucky enough to have the support of a local Ukrainian woman, Irina Chernenko (amongst others) who heard about what we are doing and reached out.

"Irina has organised and helped to coordinate three separate Ukrainian Independence Day events today (Aug 24), two in Cornwall (Wadebridge & Saltash) and another in Chelmsford.

"The proceeds of these events will be donated to Outreach Paramedics Ukraine appeal, please find more details to these events at: www.outreachparamedics.org/fundraise-1"

"We have also launched a “Schools for Ukraine” initiative in Cornwall to help us raise awareness and in turn, raise funds for our cause."

"Nancledra, St Joseph’s, St Breward CP, St Breock Primary, Devoran and Otterham Primary School have already responded positively wanting to get involved, by hosting a fundraising event, with the funds being donated towards Outreach Paramedics and future missions.

"We will be pushing this initiative when the children return to school again in September, and hope to recruit more schools."

In return, Outreach Paramedics say they will be visiting participating schools in an ambulance, giving the children a talk and a sense of what they have helped fundraise for.

In addition, children will have the opportunity to write messages of support on the ambulance for the children of Ukraine.

Support has also come from the likes of actors Bruce Byron of The Bill, Casualty, and Holby City.

Bruce has already driven an ambulance out to Ukraine with our team members, while Joe Absolom, of Doc Martin, Death in Paradise, and The Bill, has also pledged his support.

Faye Shepherd Paramedic and Founder of Outreach Paramedics said: "I am thrilled by the positive response we have seen from the public.

"Having witnessed first-hand the impact of our life-saving work in Ukraine, I am truly touched by every donation and every minute volunteered by the community, to help provide life-saving equipment to those truly in need."