Fundraising effort for charity helicopter takes flight

Pupils across the Junior and Senior Years are collecting empty crisp packets to support the ‘Crisps for Helimed 79’ initiative, which seeks to raise money towards a brand-new charity air ambulance via recycling of the packaging.  

Under the campaign, for every 800 packets recycled, £2 is donated to the SCAA’s efforts to raise £6m for the new life-saving aircraft, which will be based in Aberdeen.  

After the School’s Rotakids group put forward plans to back the initiative, collection boxes have been set up at various locations across the school, and to help make sure the initiative takes flight, they will be emptied regularly by Rotakids members in the Junior Years and High Helpers in the Senior Years.   

Children in the Junior Years also found out more about the work of the SCAA when they welcomed Dr Judith Joss, a consultant in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care at Ninewells Hospital, to an assembly. As well as acting out an air ambulance scenario with pupils, Dr Joss - one of 12 consultants that make up the ScotSTAR North team who will be on Helimed 79 when it launches next year – told the children about the impact that the new helicopter will have on the SCAA’s operations.

L3 teacher Claire Reid, Charities Committee member, said, “Our L7 Rotakids team are delighted to support Helimed 79 in this whole school initiative which incorporates fundraising for a worthwhile community venture.  

“It’s important to stress that we aren’t encouraging our pupils to eat crisps! Our goal is to help raise money for this fantastic cause by encouraging our pupils to recycle their day-to-day waste.”

You can find out more about the crisp recycling scheme and the SCAA’s new helicopter at: https://www.scaa.org.uk/news/new-campaign-to-recycle-crisp-bags-and-raise-funds-for-helimed-79