The air department personnel at RNAS Culdrose have presented the Cornwall Air Ambulance with a cheque from money raised at their section's families day.

The annual Culdrose Air Department's Families day is a chance for personnel who work around the air department to showcase what goes on at the base.

"It's a great opportunity for our families and friends to gain an insight into our day to day activities of each section," said Flight Lieutenant Alex Ward, the RAF exchange ATC officer at RNAS Culdrose. "During the afternoon's entertainment we laid on a barbecue and various entertainment for the children and adults, including a bouncy castle, a children's entertainer and electric go-karts."

Also as part of the family gathering, a raffle was held in aid of the Cornish Air Ambulance which raised £712 as well as £60 from a teddy tombola on the day. Special thanks for the fund raising effort went to Sergeant Melissa Brown who was involved in persuading local business to donate many of the fantastic prizes for the draw.

Alex added: "Mel had impressively acquired 45 of the prizes which ranged from a luxury hotel stay for two on the Isles of Scilly included a ferry crossing, dinner, bed and breakfast and a spa treatment at St Michael's in Falmouth, plus various meal vouchers and gifts. Without her hard work and dedication the raffle wouldn’t have been such a success."

There to accept the cheque on behalf of Cornwall Air Ambulance from Commander Jason Philips, Wings at RNAS Culdrose, was Melinda King. "Contributions like this keep the Air Ambulance flying," she said. "The annual costs are somewhere in the region of £2 million, every little helps - a penny from many is better than a pound from few."