Charity: Essex & Herts Air Ambulance
The event, hosted by Lord and Lady Salisbury, welcomed more than 4,000 attendees on the day and offered them the unique opportunity to see inside the new helicopter and meet the life-saving crew.
As the charity’s second ‘owned’ aircraft, the AW169, now based at Earls Colne airfield, was funded almost entirely by public donations. It has the largest cabin in its class and gives the critical care team full access to the patient when flying and more storage for medical equipment.
Entertainment for all
Along with the launch, visitors to the special event also enjoyed a range of family-friendly activities – including face-painting, arts and crafts, emergency vehicle ride-ons, bungee runs, and games – and the CPR Zone offered valuable life-saving skills and defibrillator training to attendees of all ages, equipping them with essential knowledge for use in emergencies.
In the arena, visitors witnessed an impressive ‘Emergency Service Moulage’ of a motorbike accident, delivered by the EHAAT Critical Care team, Bikerdown, East of England Ambulance Service, the police and fire service personnel. This demonstration showcased the collaborative efforts of emergency services in providing critical care at the roadside.
Spectacular displays by Eden Falconry and UK Sniffer Dogs also entertained the crowd, and the EHAAT Pop-Up Charity Shop offered a range of pre-loved items for sale, with proceeds supporting the charity.
Live music by Perfect Vintage added to the celebrations and there was a lovely moment at the end of the event when the winners of a special competition – Sarah and her son Ben – took off in the helicopter to the cheers from the crowd, creating a memorable experience for all.
Jane Gurney, CEO of EHAAT, remarked, “This will go down in EHAAT’s history as one of our biggest celebrations. It was truly humbling to be joined by so many of our amazing supporters from the communities we serve, including dedicated volunteers, community fundraisers, donors, corporate partners, former patients and their families to celebrate this momentous occasion. It fills me with so much joy to see what amazing support we have for YOUR local life-saving air ambulance. Thank you to everyone who supports the charity – we simply couldn’t fly without you!”
Supporters
The charity’s special guests for the event included EHAAT celebrity ambassador and TV personality, Lisa Snowdon, Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, Robert Voss CBE, High Sheriff of Hertfordshire, Annie Brewster JP, High Sheriff of Essex, David Hurst, along with councillors from Essex and Hertfordshire.
The heli-bration was sponsored by Fishpools, Gama Aviation, Gates Ford, Leonardo, Milbank, Rickard Luckin, SRC Group, and Templant.
