THE County Air Ambulance has been chosen as charity of the year by Rob Soutar, new president of the City of Hereford Rotary Club.

Rob became the club’s 79th president, expressing the members’ great thanks to outgoing Ron Giles.

He said: “In the last year, the club has raised substantial amounts of money for local, national and international charities including the Alzheimer’s Society, Namibia Nursery School Project, RNC, Close House Project, Hereford First Responders and many more.”

The Midlands Air Ambulance is funded solely by the public and local businesses, with no government or Lottery funding.

The generosity of the public helps raise the £5.6 million required each year to ensure its three helicopters remain operational.

The first big event of this Rotary fundraising year is the Hereford by the River Festival, at the Rowing Club on August Bank Holiday Monday. It starts at 10.30am with dragon boat racing and ends at 4pm with a duck race.

For more information on the City club, call Paul Morris on 01432 344779.