Soapbox Racers Raise Thousands for Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance
The first-ever Super Soapbox Challenge in Nottingham has been hailed a success after attracting crowds of over 35,000 people and raising more than £4,500 in aid of the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance (LNAA).
28 teams took part in the race on 10th May in Nottingham city centre raising a total of £4,607 with donations still coming in.
Rachel Wilson, Head of Philanthropy and Community, said she’s extremely grateful to everyone who donated.
“To be chosen as the charity for the first ever Nottingham Super Soapbox Challenge was a real honour,” said Rachel. “We are so grateful to everyone who contributed to the LNAA on the day.
“The demand for our services has never been higher, and this money will go towards keeping our teams of doctors and paramedics in the air so they can provide emergency medical treatment to even more people.”
The challenge was open to teams of five people who had to build their own soapbox using nothing but scrap and donated parts and race through the streets fuelled only by gravity!
At the start of the race the hand-built carts had to zoom down a four-metre ramp near the Brian Clough statue in King Street before crossing the finish line in Old Market Square.
Both corporate and non-corporate teams were invited to take part and make a £10 entry fee donation which went directly to the LNAA. They could also raise additional funds for the air ambulance charity or another charity of their choice.
Prizes were awarded to the winners in seven categories including Overall Most Innovative Cart and Joker of the Day and the winning team was NTU Racer from Nottingham Trent University.
The event was sponsored by It’s in Nottingham, Lindleys Autocentres, Nottingham Express Transit, Nottingham Trent University and Nottingham College.
Alex Flint, CEO It’s in Nottingham, said: “Our strong relationship with Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance made the organisation the ideal charity partner for our first ever soapbox race.
“We’re proud of how successful the event was, bringing thousands of people into Nottingham city centre for a day of free entertainment, and equally proud of our visitors’ support in helping the charity provide care across our county and beyond.”
For more information about the Super Soapbox Challenge please visit supersoapboxchallenge.co.uk
To find out more about the life-saving work of the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance, or to make a donation, please visit ambucopter.org.uk
Notes for editors:
About the LNAA
The Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance (LNAA) is a leading Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) charity providing world-class, pre-hospital critical care across Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. The service responds to the region’s most serious and life-threatening incidents.
Operating night and day, all year round, LNAA’s highly skilled teams of doctors, paramedics and pilots take the hospital to the patient, wherever they are. With crews equipped to deliver advanced interventions such as anaesthetics and emergency blood transfusions, patients have the best chance of survival.
And as a fully independent charity, the charity receives no government or NHS funding for its missions, relying solely on the generosity of supporters, partners and communities to stay operational.
With its state-of-the-art AW169 helicopter, LNAA continues to innovate and set the standard for critical care delivery, ensuring patients have the very best chance of survival during their greatest hour of need.
The crews cover an area of 3,500 square miles, serving a population of more than 2.5 million people.
About the Mission Possible 2 Appeal
Following a rise in demand for its services over recent years of 135%, the LNAA is raising £7m to pay for a second helicopter. This will enable crews to each more patients faster, reduce missed callouts and give more people the best possible chance of survival.
The charity has already secured pledges and donations for most of the money needed and has booked its place on the production line. The Mission Possible 2 Appeal aims to raise the £500,000 needed to get the second helicopter in the air by late-summer 2027.
The LNAA will then have two air ambulances that can get to any corner of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire in under 20 minutes.
How you can help:
- Organise a fundraising event in your community
- Volunteer with LNAA
Together, we can ensure our life-saving service continues to be there for families across Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.
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