A NUMBER of local individuals and organisations have been doing their part to help support an air ambulance in its vital life-saving work for people in need all across the country.
The Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) team has been needed by the local council area of Fermanagh and Omagh a total of 40 occasions from January to August.
On average, the service responds to two critically ill and injured patients daily, with a fundraising daily need of £5,500.
Thankfully, with Covid restrictions easing over the summer period, the local community has been working hard to support the charity with a number of local fundraising activities.
Esdille and James Lappin, who own Lappin’s Vegetable Farm, Enniskillen, raised funds for the HEMS with donations from their sunflower field throughout August and September, raising £5,521 in the process.
Esdille said: “We were blown away by the support of the whole community in coming to our farm and making a donation to Air Ambulance NI.
"The sunflowers were used in local shops, displayed in people’s homes and churches, and it was wonderful to see families coming out and watching children picking sunflowers taller than themselves.
"It was also lovely too to see the sunflowers covered in bees and ladybirds throughout the summer, and for those left behind in the field this autumn, the wild birds can use them for feeding on.”
Meanwhile, former Air Ambulance NI patient Ciaran Corrigan from Kinawley, who required the service in 2019 following an agricultural accident in which his foot was partially crushed, has raised £8,071 for the service after he undertook a mammoth challenge of running 35km of Mourne Wall, at an elevation of 3000m.
Ciaran said: “I would just like to say a massive thank-you again to everyone that donated so generously, to my family and friends who supported us in the Mournes on July 3, and to my friends, Damien Owens and Jason Martin, who completed the challenge with me.”
Belleek Youth Trust also recently distributed funds to support a number of charities and organisations which have a significant impact on the local Belleek and Mulleek communities, including a donation of £1,100 to Air Ambulance NI.
READ MORE: Air Ambulance crew raises £21k with their SWAH to Belfast cycle
Damien McAnespie, Air Ambulance NI Fundraising Manager for Fermanagh and Tyrone, said: “Air Ambulance NI, working in partnership with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, provides the HEMS for the province.
"Our HEMS can reach any point of Northern Ireland within 25 minutes, bringing emergency pre-hospital care and critical care interventions from our doctor and paramedic team to the scene of an incident with the aim of saving lives, brains and limbs.
"We are very grateful to all of our supporters and encourage everyone to do what they can to keep the service here for every one of us.”
One of the simplest ways to support the charity is by becoming one of its Club AANI members.
Most members donate through a monthly direct debit, and each member receives a monthly communication from the charity, is invited to an annual get together, and is gifted a gold pin badge, car sticker and notebook.
For further information, see https://airambulanceni.org/club-aani-membership/.
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