A Ballycastle couple who got married in August turned their celebration of love into a generous act of giving by raising more than £7,000 for charity.

Well-known press photographer Kevin McAuley and Manchester accountant Tracey Roberts tied the knot on August 16 and, rather than receiving wedding presents, the big-hearted couple asked for donations in aid of Air Ambulance Northern Ireland.

And the response was overwhelming!

"A great day was had by everyone,” said the couple, “we were truly blown away by the generosity of all who donated.”

Kevin and Tracey McAuley at their wedding in Holy Trinity Church Ballycastle.

placeholder image — Kevin and Tracey McAuley at their wedding in Holy Trinity Church Ballycastle.

To personally deliver the donation, Kevin and Tracey recently visited the Air Ambulance NI headquarters in Lisburn, where they met with Katrina Hughes, the charity’s local fundraising manager.

While they were unable to meet the medical team, who were dispatched on a mission just as the couple arrived, they had the opportunity to view one of the AANI helicopters and learn more about the organisation’s vital operations.

Katrina Hughes accepted the cheque on behalf of the charity and expressed heartfelt thanks: “On behalf of Air Ambulance Northern Ireland, please accept our sincere thanks for your donation of £7,200.

"This incredible total will help to save lives across Northern Ireland and support those in urgent need of pre-hospital emergency care.”

Kevin and Tracey McAuley present a heque for £7200 to Katrina Hughes from AANI.

Air Ambulance NI operates the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS), in partnership with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. Operating seven days a week for 12 hours per day, the service can reach any part of Northern Ireland within 25 minutes.

Since launching in 2017, AANI has been tasked over 5,000 times to critically ill or injured patients.