1 July 2010 Eastbourne Hospitality Association (EHA) are teaming up with St Wilfrid’s Hospice this summer to carry out a retiring collection of donations from visitors to the prestigious Airbourne International Airshow after raising over £17,000 in 2009.
The retiring collection will take place over all four days of the major Eastbourne event taking place from 12-15 August, with collectors located along the seafront between the Pier and the Western Lawns to raise funds towards the future of the event and for a local charity.
Last year the EHA, formed of local accommodation providers, donated funds from the retiring collection towards the Sussex Air Ambulance and this year St Wilfrid’s Hospice is their chosen local charity and they are appealing for volunteers to assist with the collection.
Eastbourne Borough Council Cabinet Member for Tourism Cllr Neil Stanley said “The retiring collection was a tremendous success in 2009 with an overwhelming response from Airbourne visitors all keen to raise money towards the airshow and support a worthy local charity. We are hopeful for similar success this summer when Airbourne returns and extremely grateful to all the volunteers carrying out the retiring collection and to those visitors who are able to contribute and show their support for our fantastic airshow.”
Fundraisers from St Wilfrid’s Hospice and members of the EHA will be taking shifts over the free four day event to carry out the retiring collection but are appealing for volunteers to come forward to drive the campaign even further for 2010.
Chairman of the EHA Marco Giorgi said “I am delighted and proud that EHA members will be collecting again in order to secure the future of Airbourne. They give up their time voluntarily at one of the busiest times of the year. I was thrilled that St. Wilfrid’s accepted our invitation to be our chosen charity this year and they will benefit by securing 30% of all moneys collected, with the remainder being ring fenced for Airbourne. I'm sure that visitors and residents alike will give generously to two such deserving causes. Keep Eastbourne Airbourne!”
Anyone interested in helping to carry out the retiring collection at the airshow this summer, with shifts lasting just a couple of hours, should contact Frances Lewis or Emily Lucas at St Wilfrid’s Hospice on 01323 644500 or contact the EHA on 01323 726756.
And Airbourne fans can start contributing towards this year’s collection now by donating online via E-shop at the VisitEastbourne website. For more information on Airbourne, including the packed line up of flying coming up in 2010, visit the Airbourne website or telephone 0871 663 0031.
