| The charity is hoping the country will take the day to its hearts and support emergency personnel injured in the line of duty |
PC David Rathband's Blue Lamp Foundation is hoping to raise thousands of pounds with a campaign to encourage people to support its cause through text giving, this Emergency Services Day.
The Foundation chose Saturday, March 1, St David's Day, as Emergency Services Day, in memory of the charity's founder David Rathband, to not only celebrate his achievements, but the work of all our emergency service heroes.
The charity is hoping the country will take the day to its hearts and support emergency personnel injured in the line of duty, by donating £2 or £3 to the Foundation.
Charity Chairman Peter Sweeney, said: "This will be the Blue Lamp Foundation's second national Emergency Services Day and we want to ask everyone to join us in celebrating the work carried out by our emergency services, by donating a couple of pounds by text giving.
"We want to build on this day, building awareness and making it more successful, year on year."
The day follows the example of the United States, which already has a National Emergency Medical Services Week, supported by the American College of Emergency Physicians, bringing together local communities and medical personnel to honour the dedication of those who provide day-to-day emergency services on the front line.
PC David Rathband was shot and blinded whilst on duty with Northumbria Police, on July 4, 2010. He had the idea of starting a charity from his hospital bed. His charity, The Blue Lamp Foundation, has gone on to provide emergency financial aid to cover the unexpected costs of emergency personnel injured in the line of duty.
In the last year, the Blue Lamp Foundation has financially supported organisations working to rehabilitate emergency services staff injured in then line of duty, as well as provided individual grants to emergency services personnel.
Members of the public, who want to join the Blue Lamp Foundation's text giving campaign, this St David's Day, should text a message saying BLUE01 £2 To 70070 (to donate £2) or BLUE01 £3 to 70070 (to donate £3). All text messages are free from all networks.
Peter Sweeney added: "We are very proud of our work in The Blue Lamp Foundation and are committed to continuing to deliver David's vision for helping his emergency services colleagues in appropriate circumstances."