A BIG fundraising drive in support of the emergency medical charity, Magpas, is being held in Fenland this month. Plans include a model rally car racing competition.

Fenland District Council will be staging two special “Green Days”. The first is next Friday (July 16) when staff at all its bases, including Fenland Hall, the Boathouse and South Fens business centres, the four Fenland@your service shops and the three leisure centres, will join in a “dress down” day with everyone being encouraged to wear green, Magpas’s signature colour. There will be prizes for the best green person and office.

On the following Tuesday (July 20) there will be an open coffee morning in Fenland Hall, which will include the Green Stage Rally competition and a golfing contest, as well as a more traditional raffle.

Participants on both days will pay just �1, with all the proceeds going to the charity.

Councillor Mac Cotterell, FDC’s deputy Leader and portfolio holder responsible for the Golden Age team, which is organising the two events, said: “Many people in Fenland owe their lives to Magpas’s rapid response to medical crises. We want to do our bit to support its invaluable work.”

Magpas is the emergency medical charity for the East of England. It operates two lifesaving schemes which involve coordinating, training and equipping more than 250 volunteers across the region.

Helimedix are made up of expertly trained doctors and paramedics who deliver emergency and critical care Interventions to patients at the scenes of very serious medical emergencies. They work closely with Cambridgeshire Police Air Operations Unit, East of England Ambulance Service Trust and the East Anglian Air Ambulance service to deliver a rapid and coordinated response to anywhere in the region.

All of the team members have to complete an intensive course which is specifically designed by Magpas to ensure they are thoroughly prepared for every potential scenario.

The Community First Responder scheme involves more than 200 non-medical volunteers belonging to 41 local groups across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. They are trained, equipped and coordinated by the charity so they can attend serious incidents in their immediate communities. Most cases involve heart attacks, cardiac arrests and patients who are experiencing breathing difficulties. All the volunteers are trained to use an automatic defibrillator, which they carry as an integral part of their kit.

FDC Councillor Phil Webb, who started the Community First Responder group for Friday Bridge and Elm, said: “It’s a real privilege to work with my fellow volunteers here and for us to be able to play our part in the great job that Magpas does.”

Debbie Florence, PR and fundraising coordinator for Magpas, said: “We are so grateful to Fenland District Council for organising these events. Magpas needs support more than ever. We require �550,000 a year to be able to continue to provide our essential services.”