EQUESTRIAN and agricultural show commentor Raymond Bready and Gransha Equestrian Centre’s Adrienne Stuart raised an incredible £30,690 for Air Ambulance NI (AANI) Charity following their skydive fundraising campaign, funding the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) for over four days.

The friends from Co Down initially aimed to raise a very ambitious £15,000 for their 15,000ft skydive challenge. However, they soon surpassed this target, thanks to setting up further fundraising events including a ‘Pedal The Peninsula’ cycle, the Gransha Equestrian Summer Charity Show, Donaghadee Beach Relay Race event and raffle fundraisers over the last two months.

Throughout the campaign, the pair were supported by many businesses with donations from W&R Barnett Charity Scheme, Edenkennedy Agricultural Services (David Rankin) and Eventing Ireland (Northern Region), as well as hundreds of individuals, who donated to their cause via their JustGiving page and cash donations.

Raymond and Adrienne completed their skydive on Saturday, September 7th at Skydive Ireland, Garvagh and, four weeks later, they were astounded to have doubled their initial fundraising target, with an overall donation of £30,690 to AANI. They would like to thank anyone who donated or supported their fundraising efforts and are very appreciative of everyone’s support.

Raymond, whose voice is as well-known among the equestrian fraternity in the Republic as it is in Northern Ireland, added: “I’d like to say a special thanks to my southern friends, who donated even though they have no access to AANI. That means an awful lot to me.”

AANI fundraising manager Damien McAnespie said: “We have been blown away by the incredible support of Adrienne and Raymond. Not only have they done something incredible by undertaking a skydive, they also have raised a huge amount for the charity, funding the HEMS for over four days and potentially helping to save the life, brain or limb of eight individuals in the region. We can’t thank them enough for what they have done for us; their passion, energy and enthusiasm for the service throughout has been humbling.”

The charity Air Ambulance Northern Ireland, in partnership with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, provides the HEMS for Northern Ireland. The service brings urgent medical assistance to anywhere in the province, operating seven days a week for 12 hours per day. The HEMS team attend patients who are seriously ill or injured, bringing emergency pre-hospital care direct to the casualty with the aim of saving lives, brains and limbs. The aircraft can reach anywhere in Northern Ireland in approximately 25 minutes. As a local charity, Air Ambulance NI aspires to raise £2.5 million each year to maintain and sustain this service so public donations are crucial.

Party

In aid of the same cause, and apart from when he was tripping the light fantastic on the dance floor, Raymond kept both feet firmly on the ground when conducting proceedings at an end-of-season charity party, raffle and auction run by Andrew and Laura Napier at Hazeldene Farm, Ballynahinch on Saturday, October 5th. The function was held in a large marquee especially erected for the occasion.

“We were hoping to raise a considerable amount for the vital services the air ambulance provides to our equestrian and rural community and we did, with just over £11,660 being the final tally,” reported Laura.

“The night was an amazing success! We had some wonderful raffle prizes and fantastic auction items. There was a lot of enthusiasm and support for both, after which people then took to the dance floor until the early hours, creating memories that we’ll cherish for years to come!”

The Napiers know all about creating a party atmosphere, as the picnic area around the water jump at their one-day events will attest. For more information on how to support Air Ambulance NI or to become a member of Club AANI, the organisation’s monthly direct debit subscription, visit www.airambulanceni.org. Direct enquiries can also be made by emailing info@airambulanceni.org.