Comedy / GWAAC
Laughter is the best medicine
Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) are putting on an all-star night of standup at the Bristol Old Vic on Wednesday, November 10, with 100 per cent of ticket sales going towards keeping their operation running.
GWAAC works closely with NHS hospitals as part of the 999 regional response service across Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, Gloucestershire, and into Wiltshire, providing critical care at the scene of accidents and saving lives.
Despite the vital nature of this service provision, the charity needs to raise £4 million each year just to keep its much loved green and blue helicopter-known – as ‘Helimed 65’ – in the sky, and is entirely reliant on the fundraising efforts from donors and supporters to achieve that goal.
So far this year GWAAC has been on 1,594 missions, treating on average more than five people daily. Helimed 65 seats a pilot, a specialist paramedic in critical care, a critical care doctor, a patient, and a fifth seat reserved for a trainee or patient’s next of kin.
James Tooley is one of the critical care doctors on the GWAAC crew. “I genuinely believe pre hospital care is one of those specialties where you can make a real tangible difference to patient outcomes,” he says.
“The use of Emergency Surgical skills (ie. the concept of operating by the roadside) is one of those rare occasions where people can be literally brought back to life immediately by something you do… These surgical skills were once only available in hospital, but often patients did not survive the journey… So being able to provide them without delay is invaluable.”
The comedy fundraiser on November 10 will also feature a short film detailing a little more about the invaluable work GWAAC is doing, as well as a guest appearance from a critical care doctor.
Lineup for ‘Laughter is the Best Medicine’
The stellar lineup includes Spencer Jones, Catherine Bohart, rising star Abi Clarke, along with other Bristol favourites Riki Msindo and Dani Johns, Matt Hutchinson, singer-songwriter Gavin Osborn, and magician Chris Cook.
The evening will be hosted by internationally award-winning comedian, and Bristol local, Stuart Goldsmith. Host of the hit Comedian’s Comedian Podcast, and an Edinburgh Festival Fringe veteran, Goldsmith’s reputation for smart, accessible stand-up makes him the perfect compere for the event.
“I’m super excited to be supporting such a wonderful cause with such an incredible line up,” he tells Bristol 24/7.
“The GWAAC is a charity very close to my heart, not least because I’m a walking disaster and the idea that somebody could conceivably winch me out of any given situation is a huge comfort.”
Laughter is the Best Medicine: A Night of Comedy in Aid of Great Western Air Ambulance Charity is at Bristol Old Vic, Wednesday, November 10, at 8pm.
Tickets are available at www.bristololdvic.org.uk.
Main photo: GWAAC
Read more: ‘As a team, we care for patients wherever they may be’
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