£1 Million Race Against Time

by | Apr 30, 2024 | Bits & Bobs

KSS launches urgent appeal to secure future of its air ambulance and save even more lives with chance for supporters to have their name on the helicopter

  • Urgent appeal launched: Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS) is on an urgent mission to buy its second air ambulance with the launch of a £1 million ‘Buy it for Life’ fundraising appeal so that it can reach more patients and save even more lives in Kent, Surrey and Sussex.
  • Securing the future of its air ambulance is vital: Until now the charity has leased its second air ambulance. But owning, rather than leasing, it gives KSS far more security over the future of its helicopter which is so fundamental to its lifesaving service and a genuine lifeline for the people of Kent, Surrey and Sussex.
  • Reaching more patients, saving even more lives: Owning rather than leasing its air ambulance also saves the charity almost half a million pounds a year which will enable it to drive forward with its plans to fly for six more hours every day, meaning it can reach more patients and save more lives, as well as continue to improve and innovate its service.
  • Chance for supporters to have their name on the helicopter: The appeal gives the first-ever chance for donors to have their name on the Charity’s air ambulance, uniquely making them part of every lifesaving mission.   Anyone donating £100 or more can have their name, name of a friend or family member, team, community group or business, or the name of a loved one in their memory, on the air ambulance – making them a part of every lifesaving mission. To secure one of the limited number of spaces visit aakss.org.uk/helicopter
  • Deadline looms: It’s a race against time: KSS only has a narrow window, until the end of May 2024, to raise the funds to buy its air ambulance to help save even more lives.

David Welch, Chief Executive of KSS, said: “Demand for our service has been growing year-on-year and has never been greater. Last year we made a record number of over 3,300 missions to people in urgent need of our lifesaving care. We must continue to respond to this growing need, now and into the future.

“That’s why we now urgently need the people of Kent, Surrey and Sussex, to help us raise the final £1 million to buy our air ambulance. But we only have until the end of May to raise the funds as it is a time-limited window in our new contract with our aviation partner.

“For your community. For your family. For your friends. Please help buy our air ambulance helicopter so that when the worst happens, we can keep even more families and loved ones together.”

  • KSS is the local air ambulance charity for Kent, Surrey and Sussex. We hope you never need us, but every year thousands of people do. And if you do, we’ll be there to fight for your life.    
  • KSS’s helicopters are flying emergency rooms for millions of people who live in and travel across Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex 24/7, 365 days a year.  
  • When there’s a life-or-death call, they bring specialised doctors, paramedics and treatment to the scene, fast, responding to, on average, nine emergency calls each day.   
  • In 2023, we were needed more than ever before and responded to over 3,000 incidents.  
  • It costs £51K per day to run this life-saving service, largely funded through the generosity and support of people within the charity’s local communities. 

KSS was the first 24/7 Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) in the UK. Operating out of Redhill Aerodrome and headquartered in Rochester, the award-winning charity was the first UK HEMS to be rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission in all five of its inspection key lines of enquiry: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led (2020) and it is world-leading in its research and innovation.    For further information: aakss.org.uk

Fundraising for Air Ambulance – Isle of Wight Ultra Challenge

Hello, my name is Ella and I’m hoping to raise some funds for the amazing KSS Air Ambulance by taking on an Ultra Challenge in the IOW in May and would very much like your support.

The Air Ambulance relies mainly on charity donations and has landed on the village green a few times since I have lived here to help save our loved ones, it really is a life saving service you never know when you might need but does cost a staggering £51k a day to keep the helicopters and doctors in the air.

I will be taking on the IOW half challenge which is a massive 52km (32.5 miles) around the west side of the Island starting at Chale at the bottom at around 7.30am and finishing at Cowes at the top – hopefully before night fall.

If you could possibly spare a few pennies or pounds for this charity event I would be extremely grateful and will update everyone with funds raised and completion time after the challenge has taken place.  Please scan the QR code to reach my Just Giving page.

Thank you so much for your generosity and support.