SunSkips supports Suffolk emergency charity with ‘tree-cycling’ scheme

For the second year running, SunSkips is lending a hand to help Suffolk Accident Rescue Service (SARS) raise funds through the organisation’s Christmas Tree-cycling Service.

Following the success of last year’s event, which raised an impressive £1800, the emergency medical charity is once again collecting old trees from residents, while SunSkips helps with the recycling by providing a 40-yard skip (the biggest size available).

SARS suggests a donation of £5 for each collection, but project officer Gina Saunders says a lot of people tend to give more.

She said, “Once people hear a bit more about what we do, they’re happy to give £10, £15… We even had a £50 donation last year!”

After learning how important the service is, one generous Suffolk resident donated an entire vehicle, which was a real game-changer that has helped the volunteer medical professionals get to people in urgent need.

Volunteers Joe and James from SARS recycling last year’s Christmas trees in Suffolk

This year, the charity hopes to exceed last year’s total to pay for much-needed vehicle maintenance, fuel, medicine, dressings and expensive medical equipment.

“Just a set of defibrillator pads costs between £70-90 per set!” Gina told SunSkips. “SARS receives no funding from central government, so we rely heavily on donations.

“This year we’re aiming to cover a bigger patch of Suffolk. It worked so well in 2020 when people were struggling to get rid of trees because local recycling centres weren’t operating at full capacity.”

Volunteer Jamie Murrow, who runs JPM Tree Services, will be busy chipping up trees ready to be recycled, while others will go straight to SunSkips Stowmarket to be processed.

Portable Space in Stowmarket has also stepped up, loaning SARS a van for two days so they can collect even more of Suffolk’s tree waste.

SunSkips is proud to be supporting Suffolk Accident Rescue Service again this year

None of the SARS’ medical team receives any compensation for the life-saving work they do.

“Everyone gives up their time to make it possible,” explained Gina. “A lot of clinicians at medical charities get paid, but we are a very small charity and rely solely on volunteers.

“It’s really amazing that they’re donating their days off to continue saving lives. They’re already stretched as it is with COVID, but they continue to come in on their days off to do a shift out of the goodness of their hearts.

“They’ll come back from a shift and sometimes I have no idea how they cope. They just pick themselves up and go right back to their day job.”

Because Suffolk is such a large county with a lot of hard to reach rural areas, SARS is often called upon to attend emergencies that are especially time-critical, such as when someone is having a cardiac arrest.

Gina said, “Our team really is the best of the best and provide an amazing level of care.

“In an ideal world, we wouldn’t need to exist. But our team can sometimes be the difference between whether a patient survives or not.”

Gina said that one of the most rewarding parts of her work is when she gets to meet people who SARS has helped.

She added, “It’s lovely to speak to them. Some patients have no idea we were ever there and that there’s no charge for their care.

“SARS truly is an amazing charity and I feel very privileged to be a part of it.”

Avoid the rush and get your tree-cycling booked today by emailing trees@sars999.org.uk. Or if you’re feeling especially full of Christmas spirit, visit the SARS website and send them a donation directly.