Portrush man Marcus Christie has been named UK Charity Volunteer of the Year by Air Ambulances UK in recognition of his outstanding contributions to charity Air Ambulance Northern Ireland.

Marcus fought off stiff competition in the awards event, held at Telford in Engand on 3 December 2025, which saw hundreds of attendees celebrate and recognise the exceptional achievements, commitment, and expertise of those involved in the air ambulance sector.

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.

Marcus Christie receiving UK’s Top Charity Volunteer award.

placeholder image — Marcus Christie receiving UK’s Top Charity Volunteer award.

Kerry Anderson, Head of Fundraising at Air Ambulance NI, remarked: “We are immensely proud of Marcus and grateful for his remarkable dedication, which continues to make a real difference to our lifesaving work.

"Volunteers are the backbone of our charity. Some of our volunteers give an hour or two each year, some an hour or two a week, so please get in touch if you even have an hour to spare.”

In 2025, Marcus completed an extraordinary challenge – walking a marathon a day for 15 days across the island of Ireland, from Cork to Portrush.

Portrush man walking 400 miles with 'paramedic bag' on his back for NI Air Ambul...

Marcus Christie on stage with hosts of the Air Ambulance’s UK Awards.

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 of this year, 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.”

L to R: Air Ambulance NI Fundraising Manager Damien McAnespie, Head of Fundraising Kerry Anderson, Business Development and Project Manager Colleen Milligan and Volunteer Marcus Christie.

Lindsay Boswell, Interim Chief Executive of Air Ambulances UK, added: “Congratulations to our 2025 Awards of Excellence winners. These awards shine a light on the extraordinary individuals, teams, and supporters who make it possible for air ambulance charities to deliver critical care every single day.

"The standard of nominations this year was remarkable, and we are proud to recognise those who go above and beyond to support patients, families, and the wider sector.”

Air Ambulance Northern Ireland has a dedicated volunteer network of 200 individuals who give their time to helping the cause in various ways. There are three main roles, namely event supporters, collection box co-ordinators and community ambassadors and the charity holds the UK quality accreditation, Investing in Volunteers (IiV).

Further information about volunteering for Air Ambulance NI can be found here https://airambulanceni.org/volunteer/ or give the charity a call on 028 9262 2677.