Devon Air Ambulance urges supporters to consider leaving a charitable gift in their Will to the lifesaving service

More than half of adults in the UK don’t have a will and many don’t know how to go about getting one. Free Wills Month is a campaign that runs twice a year, in March and October, and Devon Air Ambulance (DAA) have proudly partnered with FreeWills.co.uk to provide supporters with the opportunity to make their own fully comprehensive Will for free.

Wills are checked by a practicing solicitor and FreeWills.co.uk is signed up to the Fundraising Regulator and the Will Writing Society. Leaving a gift in a Will to Devon Air Ambulance makes a real difference to the charity which responded to 2226 calls for emergency medical help across our county and beyond in 2023.

According to rememberacharity.org.uk, charities and solicitors alike take part in Free Wills Month for three main reasons: To raise awareness about the need for Wills, to help people who can’t afford a Will and to promote leaving gifts to charity.

Jo-Anne Rigby, Head of Fundraising for Devon Air Ambulance said:

‘It is not just our dedicated aircrew who save lives, but everyone who supports our vital service, including those who kindly consider us in their Will. A gift in your will costs nothing to you now but can make a significant difference in the future to somebody’s loved one. We are hugely grateful to those who remember us as their generosity funds 1 in 3 of our lifesaving missions.’

A Lasting Legacy

The knowledge that your support helps charities, like DAA, to continue their time-critical work may provide you with some comfort.

Devon Air Ambulance Trust is a legacy for the son of the charities founder, Ann Ralli. When Cerri Thomas tragically lost his life when he was knocked off his bike in 1986, his mother Ann set her sights on doing something positive so that nobody in Devon had to experience what she was going through. Ann said:

‘It was hard to come to terms with the idea that an air ambulance that we didn’t yet have could have saved his life, a life that potentially would have enabled him to do all the things he cared about. Ceri would have been the first to recognise the value of an air ambulance and to work towards making it happen. That's when I realised, he still could.’

Read more about DAA’s history and Ann’s story here: The mother whose loss began over 30,000 missions | Devon Air Ambulance Trust (daat.org)

Make your Will this month

The campaign covers the writing of ‘simple’ Wills. If a Will is considered more complicated, a cost might be incurred but most Wills are thought to be simple enough to benefit from the Free Wills service.

The FreeWills service will allow supporters to make their personalised Will online in three simple steps. Visit: www.daat.org/make-your-will-for-free to download a helpful information booklet or call 01392 466666 to speak to a member of the DAA team who will be pleased to answer any questions.