Taking care of the bear in the air

An Aberdeenshire schoolgirl has encouraged her classmates to help fund teddy bears for her SCAA pilot father to give to seriously sick or injured children.

Captain Pete Winn flies with Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance's Aberdeen-based crew, taking rapid emergency care to those most in need in all parts of Scotland.

The charity helicopter air ambulance always carries a SCAA teddy bear on board to give to young patients as a distraction and a comfort both in the aircraft and on their onwards journey at hospital.

And when Pete's nine-year-old daughter Arabella learned of the vital role of the cuddly passengers, she decided to enrol fellow pupils at St Margaret's School for Girls in Aberdeen as fundraisers to support the scheme.

"Arabella takes a huge interest in my job with the air ambulance," explained Pete. "She has her own SCAA teddy and thought it would be a good idea to raise money to fund more bears for our young patients."

Arabella's Charity Representatives team at the junior school presented their idea to fellow pupils and a raffle to name the bear was agreed with entries costing £1 each.

The initiative raised £132 which will be dedicated to ensuring a steady supply of SCAA teddies for seriously ill or injured children.

"My friends and I were really pleased to help buy teddy bears for little girls and boys that have to fly in the helicopter air ambulance," said Arabella, "and to help Dad's work as well."

The winning name Ted was drawn in the raffle and a SCAA supporter who lives near the charity's Aberdeen Airport base embroidered the name on a teddy's shirt ready for the next recipient.

"I'm really proud of Arabella and her schoolmates for their kind and supportive fundraiser," said Pete.

"These SCAA teddies really make a difference for our young patients and it's great to have them on board."