Pictured above: Paramedic Steve Mitchell from Midlands Air Ambulance welcomed Tom Fanning CEO of Midland Expressway Limited to the Tatenhill airbase

M6 Toll operator Midland Expressway Limited (MEL) has announced it will continue to support much needed operational improvements at the local Midlands Air Ambulance (MAA) airbase. 

Extending a long-standing and successful association, MEL has agreed to fund vital flight suits for the MAA crew at Tatenhill, Staffordshire. 

MEL's funding came in response to an appeal launched by the air ambulance service last month calling for extra donations to fund improvements at its Tatenhill air base, close to Burton upon Trent. 

MAA, which attended 427 emergency call outs across Staffordshire last year, needs to raise £100,000 to fund developments at Tatenhill. This is in addition to the £6 million the publicly funded Charity needs to remain operational each year. 

In addition to the flight suits, MAA is also looking for local businesses, organisations and individuals to help raise money for life-saving equipment including cardiac monitors, crew accommodation and upgrading the existing communication systems.

In a further boost to the long-standing partnership, MEL will promote MAA safety messages on the M6 toll plazas in a bid to increase the Charity's profile amongst the driving community. 

The M6 Toll operators have supported the rapid response charity since 2004, donating a generous £170,000 to the life-saving cause. 

Tom Fanning CEO of Midland Expressway Limited said "MEL is pleased to continue its support for Midlands Air Ambulance. This is a vital service to the Midlands community and travelling public and we consider the continued funding of the air ambulance a high priority for us.

"As a charity Midlands Air Ambulance critically needs the support of businesses such as ours and I would urge other regional business leaders to consider assisting with sponsorship too."

Hanna Sebright, Charity Director at Midlands Air Ambulance says "Maintaining the highest possible patient care is the Charity's primary objective so I am delighted such a high profile organisation as Midland Expressway wishes to help fund our equipment upgrades. 

"This longstanding partnership has greatly benefited Midlands Air Ambulance. Many people do not realise we receive no central funding at all, so this support really does have a direct impact on our ability to save more lives."

Airbase appeals have been launched for all three of the MAA airbases at Cosford, Tatenhill and Strensham. These appeals mark the 20th anniversary of MAA which is currently celebrating two decades of airlifting seriously ill people to hospital across the Midlands.