TV actor and motorsport racing driver Kelvin Fletcher - who shot to fame as the character “Andy Sugden" in the hit TV soap Emmerdale - is the latest high profile star to be appointed as an ambassador to support the work of MAAC.
Kelvin - a two times recipient of the British Soap Awards - became one of the nation’s living room favourites playing the character of Andy Sugden for over twenty years in one of the UK’s most loved soap operas, which regularly attracts over 7 million viewers per episode.
Kelvin - as a familiar actor and a professional team driver for Nissan’s Factory Team RJN Nissan with Ultra Tek - will help raise awareness and draw attention to the lifesaving work of the charity.
Having taken time out from the award wining Emmerdale soap to pursue other projects, Kelvin discovered he had a natural talent and passion for motorsport and within a very short space of time he was already competing and notched up an impressive 4th podium finish in the highly competitive Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge. In 2016 he competed in the British Touring Car Championship - the pinnacle of British motor-sport - where his relentless enthusiasm proved him to be a worthy contender for this years series. Kelvin will take part in round 9 of the British GT championships on the 23/24th September at Donnington Park racing a Nissan GT4 as number 53 for Team RJN Nissan with Ultra Tek the Birmingham based racing team.
Commenting on the ambassador role Kelvin Fletcher said: "I am absolutely delighted to become an ambassador for the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity to help support and raise awareness of the incredible lifesaving work of this great charity that has been saving lives for over 26 years. As someone who is passionate about rugby and motorsport I know only too well how important the work of the air ambulances are in helping to save lives in each of these sports.
"Often with rugby, many injuries that occur on the pitch involve serious head and spinal trauma where the speed and rapid response of an air ambulance is absolutely critical to patient survival in the Golden Hour. Road traffic accidents relate to one of the biggest areas of work of the air ambulance and many times we see the helicopters landing on the sides of roads, in fields and inaccessible places to provide emergency lifesaving treatment and then airlifting patients to hospital.
"We all know of someone who has been airlifted by an air ambulance, so it is vital that we all continue to support their amazing work."