Gymnastic star Beth reaches new heights for air ambulance (From Prestwich and Whitefield Guide)

Gymnastic star Beth reaches new heights for air ambulance

6:05am Wednesday 10th February 2010

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A WORLD champion athlete is supporting a vital emergency medical service.

Beth Tweddle, Great Britain’s most successful gymnast, has become a patron of the North West Air Ambulance.

The 24-year-old, who was born in South Africa and brought up in Cheshire, visited one of the service’s two helicopters at City Airport, Manchester, yesterday.

She had a VIP tour of the aircraft and met the pilot and paramedics who make up the crew.

She said: “I have heard a lot about the North West Air Ambulance and they do some amazing work saving lives on a daily basis.

“I am very proud to be asked to a patron and I will do my best to tell everyone about the charity wherever I’m competing.”

Beth has been European and World Champion on the asymmetric bars, won the 2009 Floor World Championships and was an Olympian in 2004 and 2008.

The North West Air Ambulance receives no government funding and relies almost entirely on donations from the public. It costs £3.9 million a year to keep both helicopters in the air.

The air ambulance flies seven days a week, 365 days a year and operates across Lancashire, Merseyside, Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Cumbria.

Lynda Brislin, the charity’s chief executive, said: “We are just thrilled that someone of Beth Tweddle’s standing and character has agreed to be one of our patrons. We really appreciate her support.”

AIR SUPPORT: World champion gymnast and North west Air Ambulance patron Beth Tweddle with, from left, air ambulance paramedics Warren Billington, Dave Rawling and Paul Campbell, and pilot Neil Airey

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