Your support has tipped us over the £1 million mark for our Operation Airbase appeal—just in time for Christmas.

A pledge worth £100,000 from The Vinehill Trust, a recent £300,000 donation from the HELP Appeal and a £3,500 donation from former patient and current charity volunteer, James Cattrall, has helped us reach this festive milestone.

We need to raise a total of £3.6 million to help us relocate to our purpose-built Airbase.

“I hate to think about what might have been”

James, who was 32 at the time, was attended to by our Critical Care Team team when he was involved in a high-speed road traffic collision on the B3349 near Alton in 2022.

He sustained devastating life-threatening injuries, including numerous fractured ribs, a fractured sternum, a fractured lower leg, a fractured arm and a fractured pelvis.

James and his son, Teddy

James said:

“Without the team that treated me, I wouldn’t be here to enjoy Christmas with my family. I’m incredibly grateful to them and to everyone who donates to and supports the Air Ambulance in any way they can. Without them, I wouldn’t be here today.”

We also want to say a huge thank you, whether you’re part of a community club or group, a local organisation or you support us with a regular monthly donation. Your incredible support has tipped us over the £1 million in just 14 weeks.

Operation Airbase is the charity’s biggest fundraising appeal in our 17-year history, as we prepare to relocate from our current Airbase in Thruxton, Andover, to a site near Southampton Airport.

The move will mean our highly experienced doctors and paramedics can reach almost every patient in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight within 10 minutes of take-off – in contrast to the current time of 20 minutes or more for some.

70% of our call-outs are to the south: Winchester, Southampton, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight – a considerable distance from the current Airbase which sits on the north-western edge of Hampshire.

Keith Wilson, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance Director of Income and Engagement, said:

“This is a present beyond our wildest expectations. Every single person that has contributed to our total so far is making a difference to lives in our community.

“The time saved on a mission could mean the difference between life and death, or between a patient returning home to their loved ones in a condition that allows them to be the person they were before the incident. Thank you to everyone for their support so far. We can’t wait to have you all on this journey with us and our patients.”

Support us today and help us get one step closer to our goal.