As the Evening Press launches its 2002 appeal to raise £45,000 for a new ambulance, Health Reporter EMMA HARRISON finds out about one the award-winning St John Ambulance volunteers

VOLUNTEERS working with the St John Ambulance come from all walks of life.

Take Mick Whittaker for example: almost every weekend, and at least one night per week, you can find Mick carrying out his volunteer duties in and around the York area.

However, Mick, like most St John Ambulance volunteers, also has a day job - he is a sergeant in the Royal Air Force, based at RAF Leeming, where he leads a team working on the engines of Tornado fighters.

And now he has received notification that he is to be awarded an Air Officer Commanding Number One Group Commendation to mark his voluntary work for St John Ambulance in helping local people in the great floods of 2000.

Mick said: "I am obviously delighted to receive this honour. However, I would like to think that in some way it commemorates the achievements of all St John Ambulance volunteers during those terrible floods."

Mick will leave the RAF this month. He said: "I have been in the RAF all my working life so it will be a strange feeling to leave, but I am looking forward to continuing to volunteer for St John Ambulance. At least this year I won't have any problems getting the time off for the mid-week York Racecourse meetings."

Mick is to receive his honour at a ceremony at RAF Leeming on April 10.

If you would like to join in the fundraising activity and enjoy the fun and wacky ways that are used to help raise money or if you would like to tell your story of how St John Ambulance has helped you, contact Emma Harrison by email at emma.harrison@ycp.co.uk or by telephone on 01904 653051 ext 314.

Cheques for the appeal should be made payable to St John Ambulance Appeal and sent to St John Ambulance Appeal, c/o David Sutton, St John Ambulance, Lumley Close, Thirsk Industrial Park, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 3TD, or to the Evening Press, at 76/86 Walmgate, York, YO1 9YN.

Updated: 10:36 Saturday, March 02, 2002