A fantastic £5,000 has been handed over to the Air Ambulance Northern Ireland, having been raised during the recent County Armagh GAA All Star awards evening.
The special event – which celebrated the achievements and dedication of players, volunteers and supporters across Armagh GAA – also provided an opportunity to give back to the wider community.
Funds were raised on the night through donations, with proceeds kindly presented to Air Ambulance NI to support the charity’s vital, life-saving service.
The contribution will help ensure the charity service can continue responding quickly to serious incidents across Northern Ireland, delivering critical pre-hospital care when every second counts.
Sean McAlinden, Armagh GAA Chairperson said: “Our Club All Star Awards are about recognising the incredible commitment within our GAA family, but it’s also important to us to make a positive impact beyond the pitch.
“Air Ambulance NI provides an essential service that benefits communities right across the county, so we’re proud to be able to support their work through this donation. We’d like to thank everyone who contributed so generously on the night.”
Air Ambulance NI thanked the organisations for the fantastic donation and said the support from local sporting organisations plays an important role in sustaining the charity’s operations.
Bébhionn Hardy, Community Fundraising Coordinator at Air Ambulance NI, added: “We are incredibly grateful to everyone at Armagh GAA for choosing to support Air Ambulance NI through their All Star Awards.
“The £5,000 raised will make a real difference in helping us remain operational and ready to respond whenever we’re needed. Partnerships with community groups and clubs like Armagh GAA are vital to keeping our service flying and saving lives.”
The charity Air Ambulance NI, in partnership with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, provides the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) for Northern Ireland. The service brings urgent medical assistance to anywhere in the province, operating seven days a week for 12 hours per day. The HEMS team attend patients who are seriously ill or injured, bringing emergency pre-hospital care direct to the casualty with the aim of saving lives, brains and limbs. The aircraft can reach anywhere in the province within twenty-five minutes.
On average the medical team are called upon twice every day, whether that to 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. One of the simplest ways to support is by becoming a member of Club AANI and donating via a monthly or annual subscription.
Find out more by visiting www.airambulanceni.org alternatively you can contact the charity directly by emailing info@airambulanceni.org or calling (028) 9262 2677.
