The gift was accepted by pilot Graeme Gale on behalf of the trust when the helicopter landed at Lawrence Area School yesterday afternoon.
Bill Bazley, Lawrence volunteer fireman and organiser of the fundraising event "An Evening With the Stars", said a similar event held two years ago raised $30,000, making the evening the biggest single fundraising event for the helicopter trust, outside of corporate contributions. He hopes to run the eventevery two years.
Mr Gale thanked the Lawrence community and said the money would be put towards buying new life-saving equipment to carry in the helicopter.
While other trusts around the country channelled 80%-85% of their costs into administration, the Otago Rescue Helicopter Trust put only 3% towards administration. The bulk of the contribution went into the service, he said.
Lawrence Area School children enjoyed meeting the emergency services personnel and got to see inside the helicopter before it left the school field and landed again at Waitahuna school.
