Speed may be of the essence for our business, but for the County Air Ambulance Trust it's far more vital. The first hour after any incident is critical - the sooner expert medical attention can be given the greater the chances of saving life and ensuring a better long-term outlook.

That's why we've chosen The County Air Ambulance Trust as one of our nominated charities. With literally thousands of vehicles on the roads going about Palletline business every day, we really appreciate the vital work they do.

Launched in 1993, The County Air Ambulance Trust is the region's oldest independent air ambulance charity. Since those early days, the number of air ambulances in the region has increased to six. In addition, The Trust offers financial grants to the three Air Ambulance charities in the central region to fund operational costs and infrastructure projects. The HELP Appeal (Helicopter Emergency Landing Pads) launched in 2008 is a national programme aiming to raise £10 million to provide brand new or update existing helipads and ensure that all A&E hospitals have suitable helipad access for air ambulances in the future.

The Trust is entirely funded by charitable donations without any money at all from the Government or the National Lottery. Sustaining and developing the service represents a major fundraising challenge.

To assist with the fundraising efforts, the charity will be our chosen beneficiary for all fundraising efforts at Palletline events throughout the year. Our recent Awards Dinner raised a total of £3000 – a great starting point!