THE FYLDE'S fund-raising groups have vowed to keep backing the North West Air Ambulance (NWAA) as it fights to find corporate sponsorship for 2004.

'We won't turn our back' is the message of support for the life-saving helicopter and crew, based at Blackpool Airport.

"We definitely support them. I'll bring it up at our next meeting," pledged Blackpool Lions president Ron Kelsall.

Though the organisation hasn't got 'thousands and thousands', he said, it has helped the NWAA in the past and could in the future. "If they write to us we'd probably take it up and we could probably do something," he said.

Smaller groups, too, plan to help in their own way. Members of Blackpool & Fylde Ladies Luncheon and Supper club have raised many hundreds of pounds in the past and at the tea club's annual meeting yesterday (Wednesday) members were discussing an additional donation.

"The air ambulance is always on our mind because they do such a good job," said spokeswoman Margaret Cryer.

The NWAA -- a registered charity -- covers Lancashire, Cumbria, Merseyside, Cheshire and Greater Manchester and has saved thousands of lives since it was set up in 1999.

Initial funding came from the Department of Health. Then the Automobile Association agreed a three year sponsorship deal supporting air ambulances nationwide to the tune of £14 million.

But that funding came to an end in March, leaving the NWAA without a major sponsor for 2004 and facing a £750,000 annual bill.

"It's not a cash crisis at the moment, but part of the problem is that everybody knows there is an air ambulance for the North West but people often don't know its a charity," said NWAA spokesman, Paul Crone.

" If our money was to drop we would not be able to run it.

"The amount of local people that help the charity is fantastic. It is hugely supported. But we are looking for a major player to come forward and nail its colours to the mast."

Bob Saunderson, NWAA appeals officer, said there is also an option for smaller businesses to sponsor anything from just three minutes to one hour -- which could be vital for saving someone's life.

He added: "Even in Blackpool we can still find it a little bit hard to get support from businesses, but every penny is worth while."