THE Jockeys Emergency Fund (JEF) has made a donation of €50,000 to the Irish Community Air Ambulance Service in recognition of the great work that the air ambulance does for racing. It also committed that it would make further donations of €50,000 per annum for the next four years bringing the total amount to €250,000. Ireland’s first and only charity funded Air Ambulance is based out of North Cork, the Irish Community Air Ambulance (callsign Helimed92) works in tandem with the National Ambulance Service and responds to the most serious trauma and medical emergencies.

It offers a vital lifesaving service, bringing advanced paramedics from the National Ambulance Service to the roadside, farm or home within minutes and crucially then transfers the casualty to the hospital that best suits their needs. Currently it does not receive any government funding and relies heavily on fundraising and corporate philanthropy.