Only Fools and Motors organisers Ali and Matt Dodd give thanks after Tydd St Mary events raise more than £13k for East Anglian Air Ambulance

Three more life-saving trips can take place across the region thanks to a couple’s monthly fundraisers.

Husband and wife duo Ali and Matt Dodd have been supporting the East Anglian Air Ambulance service (EAAA) with their Only Fools and Motors events in Tydd St Mary since 2019.

Six years on, the pair, with the help of family, friends and the Five Bells pub, have been able to raise more than £13,200, enough for three helicopter call-outs.

“It’s just amazing considering we were just a group of friends who got together because we like cars,” Ali said.

The events take place each month and attract hundreds of enthusiasts to the pub grounds.

But it is not just cars that people come for, there are food stalls, pop-up bars, live bands and much more.

“It feels amazing,” Ali added.

“We just have to thank our members, because although we organise everything, they put their hands in their pockets and donate at every meet.”

The couple chose this specific cause due to a lot of air ambulance call-outs being vehicle-related.

“It’s about bringing the community and like-minded people together.”

The events have been so successful that it has merchandise and can attract flocks of more than 500 cars.

Ali and Matt plan to carry on for as long as possible as long as they are “fit and healthy”.

They thanked the Five Bells, who provide a stage and an outside bar for the meets.

“They contribute so much and they give back so much and it doesn’t go unnoticed,” Ali said.