Fundraiser raises record amounts for emergency service
Tim Bell has been nominated for Kent Fundraiser of the Year title in the Kent Mental Wellbeing Awards for his incredible work of raising over £60,000 for the Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey and Sussex (KSS).
Tim, pictured above, has spread awareness about the charity and has raised significant sums of money for the air ambulance for over six years. He has developed a unique and somewhat eccentric fundraising method in which he designs and builds objects and devices such as turning his disability vehicle into a drivable mini air ambulance, tank or Big Ben which can attend carnival parades – and then be auctioned or sold for charity.
Nick Turrell, Community Fundraising Manager at Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS), said, “Equally as important, he has been spreading joy to the people of Kent and beyond. I’m honoured to say that I have joined Tim when collecting vital funds alongside his incredible ‘air ambulance creation’ on a number of occasions, and his spirit is infectious – with members of the public inspired to dance, sing, smile and often donate.”
He goes on to say: “He certainly helps lift my mood and I have no doubt the mood of the vast majority of those he interacts with. He is a genuine, humble and caring man who has mentioned to me that his main aim in life is to make people smile – an admirable way to live one’s life”.
The Kent Mental Wellbeing awards is an annual event designed to showcase the people, organisations and initiatives that help us cope with life. The event’s three themes are: kindness and compassion; wellbeing; mental health.
Whether it is in school, business, community or family, so many of us have been lucky to have people and organisations with ideas, tips and tactics to help us cope. It is time to celebrate those mental health and well-being champions in our community and share this best practice.
The awards will be staged in October by the mental health charity Mind in Bexley and East Kent in collaboration with a range of wellbeing and mental health organisations.
Nominations can be linked to a simple act of kindness that lifted the spirits, a business that has improved staff wellbeing, through to a targeted initiative delivered by a charity or statutory organisation to support a mental health issue.
The event is sponsored by Kent County Council, Kent Community Foundation, ADM Computing, GrainLNG – National Grid, Medway Council, Optyma Security, Wave Community Bank, Cactus Graphics and CommunityAid.
Submit nominations at www.kentmentalwellbeingawards.org.uk For awards news follow @KentMWAwards on Facebook and X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
