Two charities that provide vital medical and healthcare in and around the Bath area have received a total of £3,000 in donations from a Bath Christmas Market stallholder.

DSC Event Catering Ltd, a long-standing caterer at the market, made a kind donation of £1,500 each to the Bath-based RUHX and the Great Western Air Ambulance.

The charities were picked at random from the pool of charities that attended Bath Christmas Market 2023.

RUHX supports Bath's NHS trust and local community partners to help people in B&NES and surrounding areas live healthier and happier lives, including by funding innovative new healthcare technologies or tackling health inequalities.

The Great Western Air Ambulance Charity provides critical care and pre-hospital emergency medicine across the South West, bringing hospital level skills and equipment to the patient in need, with many of the team being volunteers.

Philippa Walker, Supporter Engagement Coordinator at GWAAC, said: "Great Western Air Ambulance Charity attended 101 critically ill or injured people who needed the urgent response of our specialist crew in Bath and North East Somerset in 2023, an increase from 94 missions In 2022.

"Receiving no day-to-day government funding, we are only able to continue be there because of the support of our community. We are therefore so grateful to DSC Caterers for this generous donation and Bath Christmas Market for making a space for local charities like ours.

"With each mission costing £2,000, this gift will go directly towards getting our crew, with their expert skills and equipment, to a patient fast – ultimately, giving someone in our shared community the best chance of survival."

Ruby Guymer-Parker, Community & Volunteer Officer at RUHX, said: "Here at RUHX, we're dedicated to putting the 'extra' in extraordinary care for everyone who needs it – whether that means funding innovative new technologies or collaborating with groups tackling health inequalities.

"We're supporting our staff to do what they do best, taking care of the people who take care of you. We're helping more people to live healthier, happier lives, reducing the pressure on our hospitals by empowering positive change.

"And we're working closely with community partners to ensure the most positive future for Bath and beyond. We would like to say a huge thank you to Bath Christmas Market for organising this generous donation which will help to make our place healthier, happier and stronger for the future."

In 2023, Bath Christmas Market supported fundraising for 36 charities through two of its free charity chalets.

Councillor Sarah Moore, Chair of Bath & North East Somerset Council, said: "It's wonderful news that these exceptional healthcare charities will be helped by such generous donations. Our thanks go to DSC Event Catering for this kind contribution to our communities.

"Supporting local charities is an important part of the Christmas Market each year."

Darren Wilkinson, from DSC Event Catering Ltd said: "It is a privilege to be a part of Bath Christmas Market, and fantastic that we are able to give something back to charity after another wonderful event. Both charities do amazing work, so I wish them all the best with all future plans!"

Dates for the 2024 Bath Christmas Market will be announced later this month.