Air Ambulance fundraising in Darren’s memory hits £17k

Air Ambulance fundraising in Darren’s memory hits £17k

8 February 2023

A LOCAL family which supports Air Ambulance Northern Ireland has to date raised over £17,000 for the charity which regularly responds to life-threatening emergencies in the Newry, Mourne and Down area.

Karen Killen (nee Hogg), sister of the late Darren Hogg, recently visited the charity’s base in Lisburn and handed over two cheques totalling £2,230 in her brother’s loving memory. 

The Hogg family held its annual Christmas Fayre in aid of the Air Ambulance which raised £1,750 and last year’s event was extra special for the family as it coincided with Darren’s 50th birthday which would have taken place on December 14.

In addition, the Ballykinlar Cross Community Group, which Karen is a member of, held a Santa Fun Run and generously split the proceeds between the community group and Air Ambulance NI which resulted in a second donation of £480.

The charity, in partnership with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, provides the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) for Northern Ireland with crews attending patients who are seriously ill or injured, bringing emergency pre-hospital care direct to the casualty.

The Air Ambulance operates 12 hours daily, seven days a week, with the helicopter able to get to anywhere in Northern Ireland in around 25 minutes.

Air Ambulance NI’s regional fundraising coordinator, Amy Henshaw, thanked the Hogg family circle for its continued and extremely generous support to the charity over the years. 

“A truly big ‘thank you’ as well to all of Darren’s friends, especially Malcolm Hay and Donal Smith who continue to support the charity through their annual golf days,” she said.

Amy added: “Through a variety of fundraising events, Darren’s family and all his friends have raised a tremendous £17,136 in his memory. 

“Currently, the air ambulance is tasked on average twice a day, and because of these exceptional funds a further six individuals will be able to receive urgent and life-saving critical care.”