Cornish singer unveiled as latest appeal ambassador

Cornish singer Josh Curnow has been unveiled as the latest ambassador for the New Heli Appeal.

The former Britain’s Got Talent star is supporting the lifesaving charity after being airlifted himself as a child.

Over the next year, Josh will be holding concerts and other fundraising initiatives to raise money for the appeal, which seeks to bring a new air ambulance helicopter to Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly by April 2020.

Josh said: “The game changer for me was when I found out that it runs as a charity and relies solely on public donations to operate. The charity is so important and so special to Cornwall. It’s an honour to be part of the New Heli Appeal campaign to bring a new air ambulance to the county, it will help the crew save more lives in the years to come.”

Josh was just a teenager when he had an accident in the school playground and needed the assistance of Cornwall Air Ambulance. He saw first-hand the skills and experience the helicopter crew can provide in an emergency.

He explained: “I got my leg impaled on a spike on an old gate in the playground. It was quite a nasty wound so they sent for the air ambulance as I was losing quite a lot of blood. I was transferred from Camelford School to Treliske. I don’t think of it as a traumatic experience and that’s down to how I was treated by the air ambulance crew.

“You can’t help but have so much respect for them. The skills they have, to be able to save someone’s life, whilst remaining so calm and collected- they’re real heroes. That’s why I’m really excited to join the appeal team and help raise as much money as possible for this next generation helicopter which Cornwall deserves.”

Josh joins fellow New Heli Appeal ambassadors Paul & Emma Ainsworth and Richard & Judy Finnigan, who have been working hard to raise awareness and funds for the appeal.

Amy Richards, New Heli Appeal Manager, said: “It’s fantastic to welcome Josh on board as our new ambassador. Josh has lots of great fundraising ideas and can really bring the appeal to a new audience which is great for the charity. We’re fortunate to have several wonderful ambassadors spreading the word about the campaign and the public have really got behind it.

“In the final year of the appeal, the charity needs everyone’s support more than ever to reach that £2.5m target and make sure we can bring that new air ambulance to Cornwall by 2020.”