The Otago Rescue Helicopter Trust (ORHT) is getting a boost thanks to a group of Alexandra grandmothers and the Alexandra Blossom Festival.

Blossom Festival people’s choice float winners Grans who Can have donated their $2750 prize to the rescue service.

The Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter service is operated by HeliOtago and provides critical medical help to the communities in Otago and Southland.

The essential service is partially government funded and supported by donations and sponsorships from individuals and organisations in our local community.

Grans who Can - a group of Alexandra friends and grandmothers - visited Taieri Aerodrome to hand over their winnings and see the work of the rescue helicopter service up close.

Grans who Can founder Laurie Paterson said the group - who have so far claimed the crowd favourite award three years running - donated their winnings to charity each year and decided to give to the ORHT after two of their members used the service within the space of a week earlier this year.

“We thought… right we should give something back. They saved one of the members' lives really so it’s quite important,’’ she said.

“We’re just a group of friends so there’s no overheads or fees or anything, it’s just afternoon tea and having fun - maybe a Weight Watchers subscription,’’ she joked.

‘’[Making a Blossom Festival float] is just a fun thing to do and just a bonus we have money to donate.’’

Fellow gran Vyvienne Weller agreed.

“It’s always great - we take part in [the Festival] because we really like it but we love to be able to give back as well so when we win something it's nice to be able to turn around and give back to some sort of group that the whole community benefits from,’’ she said.

Critical care paramedic Ross Kirkpatrick said he was thrilled the group chose ORHT as recipient of their donation.

“It’s amazing because the community's support to the Trust is instrumental in us being able to perform our jobs and deliver the best in patient care possible.’’ 

Otago Rescue Helicopter critical care paramedic Ross Kirkpatrick talks to Alexandra Blossom Festival People’s Choice float winners Grans who Can about the work the service does. PHOTOS: SHANNON THOMSON

Blossom Festival chairwoman Sharleen Stirling-Lindsay said it was fantastic the Grans had donated their festival prize winnings to help make a difference in the area.

“What a fantastic full circle moment because the Rescue Helicopter is so key to our community,’’ Sharleen said.

“The Alexandra Blossom Festival is an event by the community, for the community - the Otago Rescue Helicopter service is constantly helping people in our region, literally saving lives and so it is great to see the Grans giving back in this way.’’

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