A second £300,000 donation from the HELP Appeal charity towards the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance ‘Operation Airbase’ appeal has brought the life-saving charity within touching distance of its new home.
Since its launch, the appeal has raised £3 million, thanks entirely to the generous support of members of the public, local organisations, community groups, and trusts and foundations, including the HELP Appeal.
The HELP Appeal donated £300,000 to kick-start the £3.6 million Operation Airbase appeal to kit out the new HQ in September 2024 and has now granted a total of £600,000 towards the relocation of the service’s airbase and headquarters to a site near Southampton Airport.
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To donate towards the last remaining £600,000 needed, go to hiowaa.org/donate/
The HELP Appeal is the only charity in the country dedicated to funding hospital helipads and air ambulance base helipads. The charity has previously funded helipads at Southampton General Hospital and St. Mary’s Hospital, Isle of Wight, and two of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance emergency response vehicles.
The move will mean the highly experienced doctors and advanced paramedics can reach almost every patient in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight within 10 minutes of take-off – in contrast to the current time of 20 minutes or more – saving vital minutes when treating critically ill or injured patients.
Robert Bertram, Chief Executive of the HELP Appeal, said: “We have enjoyed working closely with HIOWAA for many years and I’m delighted that we are helping to fund its new air ambulance base, which is a crucial part of the lifesaving infrastructure its communities rely on in their most critical moments.
Richard Corbett, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance CEO, added: "18 months on from the launch of our Operation Airbase appeal and we are still overwhelmed by the reaction from our supporters and members of the public – none more so than by the generous team at the HELP Appeal, whose enormous contributions will impact thousands of lives for many years to come. Our immense gratitude to them for their support.”
