11time Paralympic Gold Medalist Sir Lee Pearson CBE unveils Inspirational Legacy Wallin aid of Midland Air Ambulance at Jaguar Land Rovers Engine Manufacturing Centre

• The EMC’s new legacy wall tips Jaguar Land Rover’s fundraising for Midlands Air Ambulance to over £14,000 – enough to fund five lifesaving missions.
• The unique legacy wall incorporates more than 250 inspirational messages from #jaguarlandrover employees.
• Jaguar Land Rover welcomed Midlands Air Ambulance ambassador, Sir #leepearsoncbe to officially unveil the legacy wall in a ceremony at the EMC.

11-time gold medal winning equestrian Paralympian Sir #leepearsoncbe has unveiled an inspirational Legacy Wall at Jaguar Land Rover’s Engine Manufacturing Centre (‘EMC’), near Wolverhampton.

The Legacy Wall – in support of the EMC’s official charity, Midlands Air Ambulance - was the idea of Machining Manager Jon Stanley, who took inspiration from a traditional brick-built wall he saw on a visit to Birmingham Children’s Hospital. He said:

I was standing outside the Children’s Hospital, with my family, when the Midlands Air Ambulance helicopter landed nearby. As we were moved to accommodate the landing, we noticed a brick-built wall, inscribed with initials. It referred to a building fundraiser launched by the hospital in 1913. The public had contributed one guinea to sponsor a brick that is still evident today. It got me thinking about how we could use the idea and I brought it back to the EMC to discuss with members of our #people Committee and they loved it.

The installation, comprising over 250 brushed aluminium-style plaques, each sponsored by an employee at the EMC, has raised more than £2,700 for Midlands Air Ambulance boosting the total fundraising over the last two years to more than £14,000 - enough to fund five life-saving missions.

Taking part in the official unveiling was special guest Paralympian, Sir #leepearsoncbe, an ambassador for the charity, who has first-hand experience of their life-saving services following a riding accident. He said:

It’s a privilege as an ambassador for Midlands Air Ambulance to be invited to unveil this inspiring Legacy Wall and also to see the great fundraising efforts of Jaguar Land Rover’s staff. I’ve experienced first-hand the incredible work that the Midlands Air Ambulance team undertake and as an Ambassador I’m also aware of the invaluable contribution made by those associated with this life-saving service, which is wholly reliant on public funding.

Accepting the latest donation from the EMC team was Jon Cottrell, #corporate Partnerships Coordinator at Midlands Air Ambulance, he said:

Our life saving missions are only made possible by donations such as this one received today from colleagues at #jaguarlandrover. The team here at the EMC continue to astonish us with their fundraising efforts and seeing this Legacy Wall unveiled was truly overwhelming. Our aircrews and hardworking fundraisers are always touched when #people take the time to thank them for their work and this monument is a fitting tribute to the bighearted spirit of #people across the Midlands and we are touched to have been the recipients of this generous donation.