Air Ambulance Northern Ireland is proud to announce that former patient Hannah Babe has been named Fundraising Volunteer of the Year, in recognition of her outstanding commitment to supporting the charity that helped save her life.
Hannah, from Belleeks, Co. Armagh, has transformed her own life-changing experience into a powerful force for good, dedicating countless hours to raising awareness and vital funds to ensure the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) can continue to be there for others facing their darkest moments.
In January 2020, Hannah was seriously injured in a road traffic collision while travelling to college. Her car collided with a lorry after sliding on icy roads, leaving her trapped in the wreckage with multiple serious injuries, including a fractured skull, fractured pelvis, a broken wrist at four places and a brain bleed. The HEMS team, delivered in partnership between the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and Air Ambulance NI performed emergency interventions on Hannah at the scene of the road traffic collision, before bringing her to hospital for onward care.
Determined to give something back to the charity, Hannah became an Air Ambulance NI volunteer. Since then, she has become one of the charity’s most passionate ambassadors, generously sharing her personal story at fundraising events, supporting community initiatives and inspiring others to support the lifesaving service.
Her dedication has helped raise essential funds while also highlighting the critical difference the service makes to patients and families across Northern Ireland every day.
Kerry Anderson, Head of Fundraising at Air Ambulance Northern Ireland, said:
“Hannah is an incredibly deserving recipient of the Fundraising Volunteer of the Year award. She has taken one of the most traumatic experiences imaginable and turned it into something truly positive. Her courage, generosity and willingness to share her story have inspired so many people and helped raise both awareness and vital funds for the charity. Hannah embodies everything that our volunteers represent, and we are immensely grateful for everything she continues to do.”
Air Ambulance NI relies on public generosity to sustain and develop the service that aims to save lives, brains and limbs. Volunteers like Hannah play a vital role in ensuring the charity can continue supporting the delivery of critical pre-hospital care to patients with serious injuries and medical emergencies across Northern Ireland.
As Hannah continues to rebuild her life, her determination to give back stands as a powerful reminder of the life-changing impact made possible through the generosity of supporters across the region.