The new Northern Ireland Air Ambulance touched down at St Angelo Airport last week to launch a local fundraising initiative in support of the service.
In March it was announced that the new £4m service in the North would be based at Belfast International Airport and not in Enniskillen as had been hoped.
The campaign for the service to be introduced gained momentum following the tragic death of its best known advocated Dr John Hinds last July. Enniskillen had been touted as a possible location for the Air Ambulance, receiving support from the First Minister Arlene Foster and Fermanagh and Omagh District Council.
To raise funds for the service, the Rotary Club of Enniskillen are organising a PROAM Golf Challenge at Castle Hume Golf Club, Enniskillen on June 10th to raise funds for Air Ambulance Northern Ireland, who are a registered charity supporting Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS).
The PROAM was launched on Wednesday at Enniskillen Airport and the Air Ambulance Helicopter flew in from Portrush where it had been covering the North West 200, especially for the occasion.
John Trimble from the Rotary Club of Enniskillen is encouraging as many people as possible to take part on the day.
“The Air Ambulance is something that everybody in Northern Ireland can relate to so we decided to support the vital work that they do. It should be a very good day so we’re encouraging as many teams as possible to take part on Friday, June 10th. It’s £300 for a team of three players who will go out and play with a professional golfer.”
Ian Crowe, chairman of Air Ambulance NI says public support is vital to help maintain and sustain the facility.
“We have been working to get the ambulance off the ground for the past two years and with a good wind behind us, we hope to have the service up and running in September. Enniskillen Rotary Club is leading the way in fundraising for the Air Ambulance and we hope that other local organisations will follow suit.
“The average annual cost of running an Air Ambulance is in the region of £1.8m and that’s based on the average number of calls so it’s very much based on demand,” he added.
To enter your team, please call 028 66327077 and quote PROAM or download the application form from http://www.enniskillenrotaryclub.co.uk/
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