Air Ambulance Northern Ireland is encouraging everyone to start the new year with purpose by taking on the ‘Step Up for Air Ambulance’ challenge this January – committing to 10,000 steps a day to support the life-saving charity.

Bebhionn Hardy, Community Fundraiser Coordinator said:
“January is the perfect time to get active after the festive season. By stepping up for Air Ambulance, you’ll not only boost your own health and wellbeing but also help local patients who need critical pre-hospital care. Every step makes a difference in helping to save lives.”

Thanks to the generosity of participants last year, the challenge raised enough to fund an entire day of the service – ensuring the helicopter and medical team were available to respond to patients in need.

Registration is simple, you can sign up and download your fundraising pack here: airambulanceni.org/step-up/

Those who complete the challenge will also be invited to the Air Ambulance base in Lisburn to present their fundraising cheque and see first-hand the helicopter they’ve helped keep in the air.

Air Ambulance NI is a local charity that provides the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) for Northern Ireland, working in partnership with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. The service operates 365 days a year and can reach anywhere in Northern Ireland in approximately 25 minutes, bringing advanced medical care directly to the scene of serious incidents.

It takes 10,000 steps a day to complete this challenge. It takes £8,200 a day to fund ours, by taking part in this challenge you will be keeping the helicopter ready to respond and helping people like Rebekah.

One summer morning Rebekah was on her way to work when her car collided with a lorry, just outside Saintfield.

“I closed my eyes as the impact happened and I just had this intense feeling of being thrown back”.  Rebekah went into cardiac arrest twice at scene and had spinal injuries, an open fracture in her leg, shattered kneecap, fractured cheekbone as well as serious concussion. The HEMS team treated Rebekah at scene and following surgery and a long recovery including physio, she is now back to work and doing very well.

On average the medical team are called upon twice every day, whether that is as a result of a serious road traffic collision, farm or workplace accident, sport and leisure incident or a serious medical emergency.

As a local charity, Air Ambulance NI aspires to raise £3 million each year to maintain and sustain this service so public donations are crucial.

You can contact us directly by email info@airambulanceni.org, or call 028 9262 2677.