80-year-old William takes on half marathon for Air Ambulance

William recently celebrated his 80th birthday and is delighted to be fit and well enough to help the charity that provides the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS).

William said: “I’ve just turned 80 and feel lucky to be well enough to continue supporting Air Ambulance NI. I know so many events have had to be cancelled.

Usually in August I help the charity at the Causeway Coast Truckfest event. Instead I’ll be walking 13.1 miles to raise awareness and funds. The charity needs £5,500 per day to keep the service going and it’s been in this area to help people on many occasions. You can support my efforts by donating on my JustGiving Page https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/William-Cunning.”

Kerry Anderson, Head of Fundraising with Air Ambulance NI said: “William is one of our avid supporters and it’s fantastic he is challenging himself to ensure the air ambulance service is here when needed. Sadly, throughout the health pandemic the call out rate of the HEMS team has not reduced, trauma and serious injury continue to happen whether that is as a result of a serious road traffic collision, farm or workplace accident or an incident at home or from sports.

“We are so grateful to William and hope that his efforts may inspire someone else in the community. It’s not only the medical team who save lives, all of our supporters do too, as they keep the helicopter flying.”

Air Ambulance NI is the local charity that provides the HEMS for Northern Ireland, together with its partners at the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. The service brings urgent medical assistance to anywhere in the province, operating seven days a week for 12 hours per day.

It can get to anywhere in Northern Ireland in approximately 25 minutes. This Helicopter Emergency Medical Service benefits those whose lives are at serious risk following significant injury or trauma.

This Helicopter Emergency Medical Service benefits those whose lives are at serious risk following significant injury or trauma.

Air Ambulance NI needs to raise £2million each year to maintain this service and fundraising has been impacted severely by COVID-19.

To find out more please visit: www.airambulanceni.org or call 028 9262 2677.

* A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper whenever you are able to do so.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper when you can safely.

You can also enjoy unlimited access to the best news from across Northern Ireland and the UK by subscribing to newsletter.co.uk

With a digital subscription, you can read more than five articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Thank you