If so, the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance fundraisers will be collecting unwanted mobiles from visitors to Castlepoint, Bournemouth’s premier shopping park, between Mon 22nd and Friday 26th September. The message from the charity is that recycling a mobile phone during the “Its Your Call” appeal could help save a life – including your own. Any mobile phone, even broken phones, can be recycled and will raise funds to not only help fund the life saving operation provided by the air ambulance, but will ensure that the toxic materials contained within phones do not enter the landfill. Valuable metals and other materials within the phones can be recycled and working phones donated to the charity will be supplied to offer better communications to developing counties.
Tracy Bartam, Community Fundraiser for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, hopes that people in the region will donate unwanted phones to the team of volunteers who will be dressed as mobile phones during the appeal. Each phone donated is worth approximately £6 to the charity . More recent models could raise much more. Carphone Warehouse, Orange and 3 Store situated at Castlepoint will also collect and donate phones to the charity.
“We are calling out to everyone to donate their unwanted mobile phones and support this environmentally friendly fundraising initiative,” said Tracy Bartram. “It’s amazing how many unwanted mobile phones are in our bottom drawers and every single phone donated will go towards our £1.2 million a year target to ensure the local air ambulance continues to fly. With an average of 6-8 calls a day during the summer months and with the rising fuel prices increasing our operating costs, these initiatives that involve the public in ways where they do not have to put their hands into their pockets are crucial.”
The “Its Your Call” appeal is part of Castlepoint’s fundraising program of events on behalf of the air ambulance this year. Over £600 has been raised each month for the charity through the recycling of 4 tons of clothing, textiles and shoes through the yellow collection containers on the shopping malls.
Anyone wishing to support the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance can call 01823 669604 or visit www.dorsetandsomersetairambulance.co.uk
