Volunteer Emergency Medical Response Unit (VEMRU) is pleading with the community to assist with donations as high fuel prices continue to place immense strain on the organisation’s operations.

VEMRU said the high fuel cost is affecting its availability to respond to emergency calls.

It is a registered non-profit company and public beneficiary organisation (PBO) that responds to medical and trauma emergencies for free.

Founder Casper Visser said the organisation helps communities across Pretoria with medical emergencies, trauma/mental health emergencies, home visits, fire and rescue assistance and community upliftment projects.

Visser said, however, that the high fuel prices are affecting the organisation deeply. He appealed to the community and businesses to assist by considering donating towards fuel.

“The fuel increase affects more than just the cost per call. We currently have three sponsors that have suspended their support as their running costs have climbed to the point where they cannot currently afford to support us.”

Visser said VEMRU is solely reliant on sponsors and donations for operational costs.

He asked the community to consider supporting this life-saving cause.

“VEMRU attend to plus or minus 80 emergencies a month while assisting to dispatch an additional 30+ cases that are either outside of our operating area or happen while we are attending another scene.”

Visser said the organisation is here to help as many people in an emergency as possible.

“But the only way that we can keep on helping the community in our area of work and other areas as well is for the community and local businesses to support us,” Visser pleaded.

He said the organisation is registered as a PBO and can issue a Section 18A Tax certificate for any donation.

Visser said the long-term vision is to expand the fleet of equipped emergency vehicles so more patients can be reached faster across Pretoria east, ensuring no emergency is left waiting due to a lack of resources.

“We want to keep our service free to anyone who needs it: rich or poor.”

People and businesses looking to help out VEMRU can contact Casper Visser on 082 893 6873/ 066 217 4028 or email Info@vemru24.co.za.

For emergencies, residents can contact VEMRU on 082 893 6873.

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