Fundraising may not be an obvious part of a paramedic's job, but the team behind the Bristol-based Great Western Air Ambulance know it is an integral part of their role.

The helicopter, its equipment and fuel are not funded by the NHS so the team need to do all they can to find the money to keep the service running.

For air operations director Danny Hopkins and team leader Rhonda Collins the working day does not always stop with the last emergency call.

They often have to put in extra hours, meeting people who may help raise funds for the charity or attending events.

They do it willingly because they are passionate about what the critical care team represents and are determined to see operations increase to seven days a week.

They want to make sure there is always helicopter cover during daylight hours and they hope, one day, the Great Western Air Ambulance (GWAA) will be a 24-hour service.

GWAA is funded by a dedicated charity, with paramedics, drugs and consumables paid for by the local ambulance service, and doctors working shifts voluntarily.

The rest of the kit carried to emergencies, such as heart monitors, is funded by the charity.

Some items used at incidents are currently on loan, so could be taken back at any time. The more money the charity can raise, the more items can be bought.

The air operations base is owned by the charity and the floors, ceiling and kitchen were installed by the team, with additional work carried out by local companies which offered their services for free so money was not taken from the flying fund.

Danny said that just providing the uniform and protective equipment for the paramedics and doctors costs about £3,000 each.

"The flight suits are about £1,500 and the green lightweight suits cost about £1,000, then there are boots and high-visibility jackets. Maybe some people could sponsor a paramedic's kit to help us out."

Beyond the general running of the service, the next milestone for GWAA will be to extend the service to seven days cover a week, but Danny said there needed to be enough money in the bank before they could increase their hours.

He said: "We have really got to push for seven days and need to be raising at least £1.3 million a year to sustain those operations.

"Accidents happen seven days a week and we need as much provision as is humanly possible."

Beyond the £1.3m, Danny sees the future of GWAA in being able to offer a 24-hour flight operation, and would also like to be able to secure funds to pay for the doctors who fly.

"Clinically we are providing an excellent service and have helped a lot of people already, but there is still a lot more work to be done.

"Doctors will only work in their own time for so long and we need to raise money so we can pay our clinicians what they need to be paid. They don't do it for profit but only so they can drop a shift in the hospital."

Since the helicopter was launched in June, many of the donations have been made as a thank-you for the crew's efforts.

Danny said: "Public support is brilliant and so far has been amazing, considering we haven't pushed too much.

"It tends to be that families will get involved in fundraising because the crew have saved their husband's or son's life.

"Families of a number of people, who unfortunately we haven't saved, have asked for donations to the air ambulance instead of flowers at the funeral.

"People send in cards and say they are so grateful for giving them the opportunity to say goodbye. They have lost someone in their family and that can be quite difficult for us, but it's what brings our money in, the air ambulance being there and being used."

Fundraising by any means is welcome.

Schools and businesses can also request a recycling bin from European Textile Recycling Ltd to collect items such as clothes, shoes, bric a brac and mobile phones to raise funds for the air ambulance.

People in and around Bristol can contact 0845 900 5055 for more information or visit www. european-recycling.com.