Maldon residents can now support an Essex emergency medical charity by playing the One Lottery, after the organisation joined the scheme this week.

Supporters can now select BASICS Essex as the beneficiary when playing the One Lottery, and can win up to £25,000 for just £1 to help the charity raise the cash it urgently needs to continue its work.

BASICS Essex is a network of volunteer emergency doctors and paramedics who provide advanced life-saving pre-hospital care to help those seriously ill or injured in Essex. It works in partnership with the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST).

Paul Gates, chairman of BASICS Essex, said: "Our committed volunteer doctors and paramedics make themselves available around the clock throughout the year. They are often first on the scene, be it at the roadside, in a field, or a home emergency.

"It costs us £60,000 a year to run the charity and by playing this lottery you can help us raise the funds we need to continue."

The charity is seeking donations after its ability to raise the funds needed to purchase essential medical equipment was dramatically hit by Covid-19.

In 2020, volunteers from the charity were mobilised 114 times, up 78% on the 2019 figure of 64 mobilisations. So far, in 2021, volunteers have responded to 58 incidents.

By atttending incidents close to where they live, volunteers may be at the scene before an EEAST ambulance or air ambulance.

Paul said: "Being part of One Lottery means that with your support we can generate regular sustainable funding. This will enable us to continue our life-saving skills - but we can't do it without you."

You can enter the One Lottery by visiting its website using the link here.

For more information on BASICS Essex and how to support it, you can visit its website using the link here.