The Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) provides the critical care and air ambulance service for 2.1 million people across the South West. In 2022 GWAAC was called to help 1,808 people in urgent need.
The Critical Care Team is needed by an average of five patients a day, and rushes to treat them by helicopter or critical care car. On average each mission costs around £2,000 to attend.
The charity needs to raise over £4 million a year in order to remain operational yet receives no day-to-day funding from the Government or National Lottery.
On Friday 14 July, renowned Bristol illustrator, Andy Council, completed his spray-painted mural of Great Western Air Ambulance Charity’s (GWAAC) helicopter at the entrance to its airbase in Almondsbury.
Andy, who is best known for the Bristol Dinosaur illustration spent three days completing the mural, which incorporates famous landmarks across the region that GWAAC serves. The mural reflects how the contributions of GWAAC’s whole community create and maintain the service that GWAAC’s crews provide every single day.
For cycling enthusiasts, there is an opportunity to get their hands on a limited-edition Andy Council X GWAAC Grand Tour Cycle Jersey.
“GWAAC gives everyone in its community the best chance on their worst day by taking the skills and equipment found in a hospital emergency department to the scene of the most serious medical emergencies. We save lives that would otherwise be lost and where lives can’t be saved, we give families the knowledge that everything that could have been done, was done.”
Joe Hughes, Strategic Partnerships Manager, Great Western Air Ambulance Charity
“Working on the mural was interesting on lots of different levels. I’m pleased that I’ve managed to capture all the main landmarks within GWAAC’s region and combining them with the structure of a helicopter has been a different direction for my artwork. I also really valued my tour of the airbase and learning about the amazing work they do – my children have been inspired too!”
Andy Council, Bristol Illustrator
To find out more head to GWAAC