The launch of RSPBANI President’s Charity 2018
‘Air Ambulance Northern Ireland’
Thursday 19th April
Winston Pinkerton, President of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, Northern Ireland Branch (RSPBANI) launched his new chosen charity ‘Air Ambulance Northern Ireland’ (AANI) at its operational base in Lisburn on Thursday 19th April. In choosing this local charity for the 2018 Pipe Band Championships Season, Mr Pinkerton said, “The reason I chose ‘Air Ambulance Northern Ireland’ as this year’s ‘President’s Charity’ is because I personally witnessed the importance of the presence of the air ambulance at my nephew’s very serious motorcycle accident and was very impressed; the fact that the helicopter can arrive at the scene in a very short time, accompanied by a medical team including doctor and paramedic, without doubt, will save lives.”
Over £11,000 was raised from collections at Pipe Band and Drum Major Championships during the 2016 & 2017 Pipe Band Championships season. The first Pipe Band and Drum Major Championship of the 2018 season will be held in Bangor on Saturday 12th May followed by Enniskillen (26th May), Cookstown (Saturday 2nd June), Lurgan (Saturday 9th June), Stormont (Saturday 16th June), Antrim (Saturday 23rd June), Glenarm (Saturday 14th July), Newcastle (Saturday 21st July), Moira (Saturday 4th August) and Portrush (Saturday 11th August).
Gary Wilson, Area Fundraising Manager with Air Ambulance NI added, “We are delighted that Winston has decided to support Air Ambulance NI charity this year and look forward to fundraising at the contests throughout the season. To ensure the service is sustained, we need to raise £2 million each year so public support is crucial. I appeal to local people to get involved in helping with these collections or in whatever way you can such as organising events, volunteering or joining our Club AANI. We would love to hear from you if you can help; please contact us on 028 9262 2677.”
AANI, in partnership with Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS), provides a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) and responds to severely ill or injured patients, seven days a week, for twelve hours a day. From its base in Lisburn, it can reach any part of Northern Ireland in approximately twenty-five minutes. The service’s primary role is to deliver advanced critical care, benefitting those whose lives are at serious risk following significant injury or trauma by bringing urgent medical assistance directly to the patient at the scene. Most of the responses to incidents are by air in the helicopter HeliMed23, but the HEMS team also has a rapid response car, Delta 7, for times when the helicopter isn’t able to fly or the incident is in close proximity.
Caption for photo: 1
Winston Pinkerton.
RSPBANI President.
Caption for photo: 2
Ian Burrows, RSPBANI Project Manager & Winston Pinkerton, RSPBANI President (left) and Glenn O’Rorke, AANI Operational Lead & Gary Wilson, AANI Regional Fundraising Manager (right) pictured at the launch of the RSPBANI ‘President’s Charity’ for 2018 ‘Air Ambulance Northern Ireland’ at the AANI operational base in Lisburn on Thursday 19th April.
Article and photos by John Kelly
