$5000 donation to ambulance service

An equipment upgrade for Martinborough District Ambulance Service is a step closer because of a $5000 donation from Toast Martinborough.

St John central region team manager Murray Pike said the donation had come at a "great time".

"As the first response team, our role is to provide immediate and often life-saving care, usually until a hospital-based ambulance arrives to take the patient to hospital.

"This donation will enable us to upgrade our equipment to more modern standards."

Mr Pike said the ambulance service was a community partnership. "The Martinborough District Ambulance trust owns the vehicle while St John covers the cost of day-to-day upkeep and provides training for the ambulance crews.

"It's a good relationship. We are very pleased to work with the community to provide the service it needs."

Toast Martinborough's general-manager, Rachael Fletcher, said the importance of the local ambulance service in providing a first response for the community at night was well understood.

"We are very proud to acknowledge and support the community that hosts our wine and food festival," she said.

Chairman of the Martinborough District Ambulance Trust David Kershaw said the partnership with St John worked well.

Martinborough was a very large area "so it is vital to have a local ambulance service that can reach ill and injured people quickly". He said the trust could not provide the service without St John and financial help from sponsors and donors.

"Our thanks go to Toast Martinborough. This money is just what we need."