Bristol International Balloon Fiesta announce charity partners for 2022

Bristol International Balloon Fiesta announce charity partners for 2022

Posted on: 11 Jul 2022

Organisers of the world-renowned balloon festival have today revealed that Teenage Cancer Trust and Great Western Air Ambulance Charity will be their official charity partners for the upcoming event.

 

Bristol International Balloon Fiesta will run from Thursday 11 until Sunday 14 August.

 

Both charities will have a key part to play in the landmark Bristol event as it makes its highly anticipated return to Ashton Court Estate after two years of disrupted celebrations due to the pandemic.

 

The Fiesta is free to attend but parking tickets can be found here.

 

 

Teenage Cancer Trust is the only UK charity dedicated to caring for and meeting the complex needs of teenagers and young adults fighting cancer, providing lifesaving emergency care across Bristol, Bath, Somerset, Gloucestershire and parts of Wiltshire.

 

The charity provides specialist services to young people affected across the UK, with specialist facilities at Bristol’s Children’s Hospital and Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre.

 

Their specialist nurses and support are committed to supporting young people with cancer in the Southwest to ensure they get the necessary access to specialist care and support.

At this year’s Fiesta, Teenage Cancer Trust will be collecting donations at Thursday’s famous Nightglow with GWAAC fundraising at Saturday’s Nightglow – both charities will also be hosting activities throughout the weekend.

 

At the Teenage Cancer Trust tent, attendees will be able to immerse themselves in some classic community entertainment, including a tombola, raffles and plenty of children’s activities.

 

GWAAC will also be running an array of activities with everything from CPR sessions for families to children’s story time. Saturday will see special tours of the charity’s helicopters and UV face painting in time for the night glow.

 

Each GWAAC air ambulance mission costs around £2,000 to attend and the charity needs to raise £4 million a year to remain operational, thus relying on support from the community, its volunteers and local support to keep going.

Philippa Walker (GWAAC’s Supporter Engagement Coordinator) said: 

 

“We are delighted to have been chosen as a charity partner for the Balloon Fiesta this year, alongside Teenage Cancer Trust, and so appreciate the opportunity to have a presence on site across the weekend. 

 

“To be able to speak with local people about their local air ambulance, raising awareness and crucial funds will make such a huge difference. We hope that everyone visiting has an amazing time.”

 

Tracy Burns (Teenage Cancer Trust’s Senior Relationship Manager) added: 

 

“We are incredibly proud that Bristol International Balloon Fiesta has chosen to partner with Teenage Cancer Trust. This support means so much to everyone here at the charity and the funds raised will be truly life-changing for so many young people with cancer. We can’t thank them enough.”

Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is now in its 43rd year and, over that time, has grown into one of Europe’s largest hot air balloon festivals, attracting over half a million visitors every year.

 

The 2022 edition of the festival will take place between Thursday 11 and Sunday 14 August with visitors welcomed back to Ashton Court Estate at 12:00 on Thursday followed by the first mass ascent of the festival at 18:00. Bristol Balloon Fiesta is free to attend but visitors are encouraged to plan their journey ahead of time and book their parking tickets in advance here.

 

Head to the Fiesta website for more information.

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Article by:

Stanley Gray

Stan is a born and bred Bristolian, recently graduated from studying English Literature in Sheffield. His passions are music and literature and he spends the majority of his time in venues all over the city, immersing himself in Bristol’s alternative music scene. A lifelong Bristol City fan, Stan’s Saturdays are spent watching his team both home and away.