The team at our Torbay garden centre is excited to announce the charity total for 2018, their second year of fundraising for Devon Air Ambulance.

A total of just under £4,000 was raised through various customer and staff events run throughout the year.

Intrepid employee Richard Vanstone had his head shaved for the second year in a row to help raise funds, whilst Alice Bamber, daughter of staff member Andrew Bamber, raised funds by creating Christmas animal decorations at school by recycling magazines. Another major fundraising attraction was an entertaining animated reindeer display at Christmas.

“Devon Air Ambulance, which helped over 1,100 patients during 2018, is a vital part of the Devon community,” said Branch Manager, Emma Devonald. “We’re pleased with the results of our fundraising efforts to support the charity.

“Our customers have been very generous with their donations once again, so many thanks to everyone who dug deep. I would also like to add a thank you to former employee Julia Stone – Julia has now left the garden centre but was a huge part of our fundraising efforts over the two years.”

Together with the £4,500 raised last year, this means the Torbay team has handed over around £8,500 to Devon Air Ambulance.

“We are extremely grateful to Otter Garden Centres for their continued support over the last two years in which time they have raised a significant amount of money for DAA,” added DAA Fundraising Manager, Tracy Owen.

“We would like to say a huge thank all of their staff and customers for their generous donations. Last year it cost £7.5 million to keep the service operational so every penny raised will make a real difference.”

For 2019 the team are raising funds for a local mental health charity, Step One.