Wiltshire Air Ambulance’s logo will sit proudly on the back of Swindon Town’s away shirt for the 2019/20 season.
(L-r) Imagine Cruising’s product and marketing manager Martin Palmer, Swindon Town’s commercial manager Adam Wainwright, Wiltshire Air Ambulance trainee critical care paramedic Keith Mills, Wiltshire Air Ambulance chief executive David Philpott, Swindon Town chief executive Steve Anderson, Imagine Cruising director Steve Morrish.
The Sky Bet League Two club has chosen Wiltshire Air Ambulance as its Charity of the Year partner for another season and has kindly donated the prominent sponsorship area to the lifesaving service, which is based in Semington, near Melksham.
In addition, the Robins have pledged to sponsor trainee critical care paramedic Keith Mills, aiming to raise £8,500 throughout the season to fund his training, medical equipment and uniform.
Keith, 46, joined Wiltshire Air Ambulance in 2015 after spending two seasons working as a paramedic at Swindon’s home matches.
Wiltshire Air Ambulance chief executive David Philpott said: “Swindon Town have been long-term supporters of our charity and we’re very grateful to the football club and their sponsors Imagine Cruising for all the money they’ve helped to raise to date.
“We were delighted to welcome Richie Wellens, his staff and playing squad to the airbase today, where they were able to meet Keith, the trainee critical care paramedic they will be sponsoring throughout the season.
“We’re also very proud to take pride of place on the back of the away shirt in what we all hope will be a memorable campaign ahead.”
Swindon’s away kit, produced by Puma, is mirage grey for the 2019/20 season and will now include the Wiltshire Air Ambulance logo on the neckline above each player’s name and squad number.
Last season the Wiltshire club raised £12,000, along with primary sponsors Imagine Cruising, to help fit out the charity’s RRV (Rapid Response Vehicle).
Adam Wainwright, the club’s commercial manager, said: “Last season Imagine Cruising, our mainline sponsors, supported us brilliantly with our £12,000 target and are once again fully engaged with us and Wiltshire Air Ambulance to deliver on the new fundraising total as a three-pronged partnership.
“We are immensely proud as a Football Club to be right at the heart of the community with this partnership and to have our crest embroidered on the flight suit of the trainee critical care paramedic when he is out saving lives is very powerful.
“It gives us great pleasure to gift the charity the back of our away shirt sponsorship too. We feel ultimately to do the campaign justice, their logo needs to be high in terms of profile and we can raise their profile considerably.
“A great deal of planning has gone into the unique location for this season’s team photo. It was magnificent to be hosted at the airbase; being pictured by the helicopter and RRV emphasises the strength of the partnership. We have a part to play and genuinely care about the community and are passionate about achieving results off the field of play too.
“We very much look forward to all the partnership activation planned and to the day when we can announce that we have hit the target and as a club we have funded a trainee critical care paramedic.”
Imagine Cruising’s Martin Palmer commented: “As Swindon Town Football Club’s main sponsor for the past five years, we are delighted to help assist them in their fundraising goals to fund a trainee critical care paramedic.
“We never know when any of us, our friends or family might need the life-saving services that the Wiltshire Air Ambulance provides and look forward to working together to help save more lives in Wiltshire.”
Swindon Town fans can contribute towards the sponsorship of paramedic Keith by making a donation through a special link – simply visit wiltshireairambulance.co.uk/donate?campaign=SwindonTown
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