LION-HEARTED fundraisers have once again gone the eggs-tra mile to raise more than £100,000 for Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance in just seven years.

Farnham, Fleet and Aldershot Lions have supported the charity through their annual Easter Egg Eggstravaganza since a fundraising appeal was first launched to get the county’s air ambulance off the ground.

They distributed more than 100 Easter eggs adorned with a lion and customers had to pick a name for the lions from a choice of 100 for a donation of £1.

This year alone they raised a total of £6,758 which is enough to fund three potentially lifesaving missions.

Members of the Farnham and Fleet Lions visited the helicopter base at Redhill to present their cheque to the pilot, doctor and paramedic.

Farnham Lion, Phil Alexander said: ”We really enjoy raising money in this way – the people of our area now expect to see the giant easter eggs in the shops annually.”

In 2012, Lions clubs across the South East pledged to raise £250,000 over 10 years for a night flying appeal for the Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance.

The funds are a significant contribution towards the additional cost of £1 million-a-year for a 24 hour service which was launched at Redhill in December, 2012.

Air ambulance director of communications, Jill Hunt said: “The Lions clubs in the South East have made a very valuable contribution in supporting the air ambulance and particularly night flying.

“The Easter Eggstravaganza alone has raised substantial funds for the air ambulance which will have helped the many people that the air ambulance has attended.

“We are very grateful to the Farnham, Fleet and Aldershot Lions for their ongoing support.”

To find out more about the air ambulance or make a donation, visit the website www.kssairambulance.org.uk.