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Northland’s rescue helicopter service is asking residents to help raise more than $300,000 through its annual appeal, with fundraising events planned across the region in the lead-up to Christmas.
Northern Rescue says public donations help keep its helicopters in the air and its crews ready to respond when people need urgent help. Last year, Northlanders donated $262,000, including more than $60,000 raised through the More FM Northland live breakfast broadcast.
This year’s More FM Big Breakfast Chopper Appeal starts at 6am on October 29, with events in Kerikeri, Dargaville and Whangārei.
Northern Rescue fundraising and development manager Jan Hewitt says the community has been extraordinarily generous over the years.
“Every donation helps,” she says.
Northland Westpac Rescue Helicopter critical care paramedic Paul Davis and pilot Steve Couchman have flown thousands of missions between them. Both say their greatest privilege is reaching someone in a critical moment and giving them the best possible chance of returning home.
Couchman has spent 24 years working in emergency medical services, all with Northern Rescue, and has more than 8000 flight hours behind him.
“One of the ultimate uses of our helicopters is winching people to safety and what gives me the most satisfaction is helping people in their time of need,” he says.
“It is a privilege doing the work we do and knowing we are making a difference to someone during what could be the worst day of their life.”
The service has carried out more than 40,000 missions since 1988.
Crews are supported by a Whangārei-based engineering team, with close cooperation between pilots and critical care paramedics central to each mission and to giving patients the best possible chance of a recovery.
Davis says the rescue teams are also part of the communities they serve and see the effort people put into supporting their work.
“We see first-hand the extraordinary lengths people go to in order to fundraise for us and support our work,” he says.
“We are deeply grateful for the support we receive from Northlanders and visitors throughout the year, but during the Annual Appeal that generosity becomes something truly powerful.”
Davis and Couchman believe the fundraising target is achievable, with community events offering several ways for residents to contribute in the coming weeks.
Alongside attending an appeal event, supporters can donate directly to Northern Rescue to help fund the service’s work across the region.
Donations can be made at donate.northernrescue.org.nz/northlandappeal
