Air Ambulance NI receives major boost from Ulster Bank's £155,000 donation

PICTURED ABOVE: (Back Row) Kerri Anderson and Colleen Milligan, Air Ambulance Northern Ireland; John Ferris, Laura Rush, and Ben Tohall, Ulster Bank. (Front Row) Glen O’Rorke, HEMS Operational Lead; Terry Robb, Ulster Bank, and Dr. Catherine Patterson, HEMS.

Ulster Bank colleagues in Derry have helped to raise over £155,000 for charity partner Air Ambulance Northern Ireland during this year’s ‘One Week in September’ fundraising campaign.  

Staff at the Ulster Bank branch in Derry arranged a number of fundraising activities, including a charity raffle, a coffee morning and a sponsored walk, which contributed to the overall fundraising amount which was presented to AANI at the end of November.  

Air Ambulance Northern Ireland works in partnership with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service to provide the region’s Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS).

The service delivers critical pre-hospital medical care to seriously ill or injured patients, bringing a consultant doctor and paramedic directly to the scene of an incident. Operating 365 days a year, the air ambulance can reach any part of Northern Ireland within approximately 25 minutes, providing interventions that can be the difference between life and death. 

Helping the Derry team were Ulster Bank colleagues from other branches across NI, the contact centre, head office, and support teams who also organised a number of fundraising activities which all contributed to the significant donation that will help sustain this essential, life-saving service for communities across Northern Ireland. 

In addition to fundraising, teams have also been volunteering with the charity through the bank’s ‘do good, feel good’ programme, something Terry Robb, Head of Retail Banking at Ulster Bank, says has deepened the partnership. 

“Our partnership with Air Ambulance Northern Ireland has gone from strength to strength, and I’m immensely proud of our colleagues who continue to give their time, energy, and skills so generously to this great cause. Raising £155,000 is an incredible achievement, and we know that every contribution helps the medical teams deliver critical care when and where it is needed most. 

“Visiting the base and seeing the work of the crew firsthand has been a fantastic motivator for our teams and so we also extend our thanks to everyone at Air Ambulance NI for their collaboration which has really enhanced how we approach this partnership.  

Expressing thanks for this year’s donation, Colleen Milligan at Air Ambulance Northern Ireland, said: “We are grateful to each of the Ulster Bank team members for their outstanding support.  Air Ambulance NI is the charity that works in partnership with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service to provide the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service. 

"The team are needed on average twice per day and can be airborne in about 5 minutes and provide interventions at scene that can be the difference between life and death.  

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"As a local charity that relies so much on fundraising in aid of the service, this support is crucial.  Each day, Air Ambulance NI needs to raise over £8,000 and all contributions make a difference.” 

“The commitment shown by Ulster Bank staff through fundraising and volunteering has a profound impact on what we can do, and we extend our heartfelt thanks for their continued support.” 

To learn more about the work of Air Ambulance Northern Ireland, including details on how to make a donation, visit www.airambulanceni.org.