Tyrone woman named local Air Ambulance NI fundraising manager

A COOKSTOWN woman who has recently been appointed Air Ambulance NI’s (AANI) new Area Fundraising Manager for the North-West said she is ‘honoured’ to join the team and that she looks forward to working closely with the local community and businesses to further support the vital service.

34-year-old Katrina Hughes took on the role earlier this year and has been keeping busy ever since as she established herself in what she has described as a ‘fantastic team’.

Katrina will be responsible for overseeing activities in areas ranging from Ballycastle to Cookstown and Derry.

With experience in fundraising from a young age and her dedication to AANI, she hopes to leverage her passion for supporting the charity and raise essential funds to help keep the service running.

PASSION

Speaking with the Herald this week, Katrina recalled her passion for fundraising blossoming from an early age.

She said, “At the age of eight, I remember organising a ‘bring and buy sale’ in primary school.

“I got everyone in school to bring in toys they no longer wanted so we could resell them all for 50p each.

“While I don’t recall how much money we made, I do remember receiving a Blue Peter badge for it!”

Later in life, Katrina would go on to study Leisure and Events Management at Ulster University.

“I initially wanted to go into the charity and voluntary sector,” she explained.

“But after graduating I found myself heading down the route of marketing, as it came naturally with the degree.”

Prior to her current role with AANI, Katrina had helped organise a fundraiser for the charity with a previous employer, having raised £2,565 in 2019.

Commenting on her current role as Area Fundraising Manager for the North-West, she described the role as ‘fast-paced’.

“Everyday is something different, but always as enjoyable as the last,” she explained.

“As a somewhat young charity, it comes with its challenges, but we have a fantastic team and we receive amazing support from across the region.”

Katrina urges anyone who is interested in carrying out a fundraising event for the charity to get in touch.

She said, “We have a whole range of events on offer and some great opportunities for team building days, or days out with friends and family.

“Alternatively, if anyone has their own ideas for fundraising events, they can certainly get in touch and we can support them and help them make it happen. We have such a passionate and driven team of fundraisers and we are here to help support both community and corporate fundraisers.”

Katrina described AANI as ‘everybody’s charity’ and explained that they have been called out over 4,000 times in nearly seven years since the medical team’s first tasking in July 2017.

“Our helicopters are called out twice a day on average.

“With the generosity of everybody who donates, our HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) team has the best chance of saving lives.”

LIFE-SAVING

HEMS is operated in partnership with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and delivers much needed life-saving medical aid to critically-ill and injured patients throughout the North.

As a local charity, AANI needs to raise £2.5 million each year to maintain and sustain the service, which largely depends on public donations. Amid the current ‘cost-of-living’ crisis, their daily fundraising target has increased to nearly £7,000.

It’s not all about events, however, as Katrina concluded, “We also look after the likes of gifts in wills, donations in lieu of flowers, birthday fundraisers, wedding favours, and numerous other kind ways of donating to this essential service.

“We will also be carrying out a bucket collection at this year’s Cookstown 100 on April 26 and 27.”

To support Air Ambulance NI, you can sign up to one of their annual fundraising events or choose to organise your own event with the support of their fundraising team at www.airambulanceni.org.