Portrush man's fundraising highlighted as Air Ambulance NI marks ninth anniversary
An incredible fundraising campaign by a Portrush man has been highlighted by Air Ambulance NI as it celebrates the ninth anniversary of the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS).
Since its inception in July 2017, the HEMS has become an indispensable lifeline, being called out on 5,731 taskings to date. It has been a busy start to the year for the dedicated crew, logging a total of over 125 flying hours since January 2026 alone.
Looking to the future, Air Ambulance NI has announced a massive operational milestone – the procurement of the first helicopter to be owned, as opposed to being leased, by the charity.
This would not have been possible without the generous support of the public, which Air Ambulance NI are deeply humbled by and grateful for. The new helicopter is scheduled to officially come into service in late summer 2026.
The life-saving service is also made possible by the dedication of a phenomenal volunteer network – such as Portrush man Marcus Christie.
At the national Air Ambulance UK (AAUK) Awards, Marcus Christie picked up Volunteer of the Year for his incredible campaign of fundraising and awareness raising of the charity.
Marcus’ journey with Air Ambulance NI began in January 2023, when his mother Joan Christie, the former Lord Lieutenant for the County of Londonderry, required the services of the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service.
Although his mother sadly passed away, Marcus was deeply moved by the care and reassurance provided by the team.
Motivated by this experience, he has devoted nearly three years to raising both funds and awareness for the service, which operates 12 hours a day, every day of the year. To date he has raised over £75,000.
In 2025, Marcus completed an extraordinary challenge – walking a marathon a day for 15 days across the island of Ireland, from Cork to Portrush.
This feat was in addition to over 80 hours of volunteering in the community, where Marcus delivered talks about the Air Ambulance, assisted at fundraising events, attended collections, and contributed in many other ways.
In June 2025, he was recognised as Volunteer of the Year at the Institute of Fundraising NI awards. In previous years, he organised a gala ball, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, and conquered the UK’s three highest peaks in just 21 hours.
Reflecting on his experience, Marcus said: “Volunteering with Air Ambulance NI has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. The service makes an incredible impact on our community, responding to over 5,000 call outs in just eight years.
"Each of my challenges has been dedicated to mum, who devoted her life to public service, though she would probably have thought I was completely mad.”
Air Ambulance NI has launched Lift Off Together, inviting supporters to become a lasting part of the charity’s onward journey. The campaign offers the unique opportunity to have your name – or the name of someone special – featured on the underside of the new helicopter with a donation of £200.
For more information, please visit: airambulanceni.org/lift-off-together/