Air Ambulance Airbase Appeal Hits £3.6m Target

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance ‘Operation Airbase’ appeal has successfully reached its £3.6 million target.

100% of the funds have been generously donated by members of the public, including local businesses and organisations, trusts and foundations and community groups and clubs.

More than 13,000 donors have contributed towards the appeal, with supporters taking part in gruelling challenges, such as the three peaks, and family-friendly events, like Dash in the Dark and the Runway Run.

The culmination of almost two-year's worth of fundraising for the appeal coincides with the service relocating its emergency operations from its previous site in Thruxton, Andover, to the purpose-built airbase near Southampton Airport as it undergoes a period of testing and familiarisation.

In its first weekend responding from the new base, the teams responded to 20 emergencies across the south, significantly above the average of seven missions a day. 

The move will drastically improve response times for the service’s doctors, pilots and paramedics, who will be able to reach almost every patient within 10 minutes of take-off – saving vital minutes when treating critically ill and injured patients. 

Keith Wilson, Director of Income and Engagement, said: 

“This is an extremely proud and significant occasion for our charity and the countless patients whose lives will be saved and changed as a result of this move. 

"It makes it even more special that every single penny of this appeal has been raised by people in our communities.

"A special thank you to everyone who got behind us and this move. You will all hold a special place in the heart of this air ambulance service for many years to come.”  

For more information, visit hiowaa.org