A DORSET brewer has raised more than £260,000 for air ambulance charities.

Over the last couple of years, Hall & Woodhouse (H&W) has been working to raise money for the air ambulance after members of its team voted to make eight such charities their official partners in early 2018.

Since then, 53 pubs across H&W’s managed house estate have undertaken several fundraising initiatives including quiz nights, sponsored events and family fun days.

In addition, more than £23,000 was raised over the past two years at H&W’s Dorset Beer Festival alone. In total, £268,365 was raised over the two years.

Lucinda Gray, company charity champion of H&W, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have raised such a tremendous amount for eight local air ambulance charities. We set ourselves the ambitious target of raising £250,000 over the two years, but with dedication, kindness and teamwork I am incredibly proud and humbled that our team have smashed this.

“Our houses and the team at the brewery in Blandford have worked tremendously hard to stay on track of this target and we are grateful for their support. They have enabled us to give back to the local communities in which the air ambulance charities serve. Every penny we raise will allow them to continue saving lives, further enhance their operations, or purchase new items of specialist equipment which could help keep someone alive until they reach hospital.”

Speaking on behalf of the charities, Tracy Bartram, Communications Manager at Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, added: “It is extremely rare for eight air ambulance charities to have an opportunity to be the beneficiaries of one ‘Charity of the Year’ initiative, which makes the H&W Charity Partnership extremely unique.

“The Hall & Woodhouse teams embraced our charities whole-heartedly and we have been overwhelmed by their generosity and grateful to the guests who have supported the partnership’s success.

“With the approximate cost of an air ambulance mission being £3,000, this means that in two years the partnership has potentially funded 90 life-saving missions. On behalf of the patients that needs us all, thank you – we are truly grateful.”