JOHN McMullan, from Castlewellan and father of the first ever person Air Ambulance NI flew too, is joining forces with Cool FM Breakfast Show co-host Paulo Ross, HEMS staff and a fellow former patient family member to take part in the Mash Direct Belfast City Marathon Team Relay for Air Ambulance NI.
On July 22, 2017, two days before the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) was due to go live, Conor, who was just 11 at the time, needed urgent medical attention. Conor was working on the family farm when he was struck by a tractor trailer and suffered a serious head injury.
The HEMS team made the decision to fly to Castlewellan where it was able to immediately administer critical care interventions to Conor and stabilise him. These types of interventions can significantly reduce the chances of long-term damage to the brain from head injury.
John said: “Since Conor’s accident in 2017, we have been huge supporters of Air Ambulance NI and are always looking for opportunities to get involved with the charity. I’m looking forward to taking part in the Mash Direct Belfast City Marathon and raising vital funds that may be able to help another family, just like ours. It’s a service we certainly never thought we would ever need but we will always be very grateful to the team who attended to Conor.”
On Sunday, April 30, the team will don the red running vests in support of the charity which aims to save lives, brains and limbs. The five team members are coming together from all over the Province to represent #TeamAirAmbulanceNI.
Alongside John, the team is comprised of Cool FM Breakfast Show co-host Paulo Ross from Ardglass, HEMS Paramedic Mike Patton from Bangor, HEMS administrator Lukasz Karpinski from east Belfast, and Alex McKinley, sister of former HEMS patient Kyra McKinley from Omagh.
On top of training for the relay, they have challenged themselves to raise vital funds for Air Ambulance NI, which needs £5,500 daily to sustain the life-saving service.
HEMS Paramedic Mike said: “We are tasked on average twice per day. The main aim of the service is to deliver time critical interventions to patients on scene anywhere in NI. The team can deliver pre-hospital emergency anaesthesia, administer pre-hospital blood products, and provide advanced pain relief for our patients.
“Fundraising is necessary to keep our aircraft flying, it is never lost on us that we couldn’t do our job without the generosity of the public. This is why we have decided to take part in the Mash Direct Belfast City Marathon, and we really hope the public will get behind us to support our fundraising challenge.”
They will be joined by approximately 800 other runners representing the charity on the day. If you would like to support them with their fundraising endeavours, you can donate at eventmaster.ie/fundraising/pages/HT09136109/
HEMS Doctor Andrew Topping, from Hillsborough, is going several miles further, by challenging himself to run the full marathon in support of the charity and he’s not limiting himself to just Belfast; “This spring I will be running two marathons in one week in support of Air Ambulance NI – the London Marathon on Sunday, April 23, and the Mash Direct Belfast City Marathon the following Sunday.
“If you would like to support me in my fundraising challenge, please visit HEMS Doctor Andrew Topping Taking on HUGE Challenge – 2 Marathons in 1 Week! – JustGiving. Or you could challenge yourself and join me and #TeamAirAmbulanceNI on Sunday, April 30, at Mash Direct’s Belfast City Marathon, the Team Relay or the 8-Mile Walk.”
The Air Ambulance NI works in partnership with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service to provide the HEMS for Northern Ireland. The service operates 12 hours per day, seven days a week. 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.
n If you would like to register for the 8-Mile Walk, Team Relay, Half Marathon or Full Marathon you can do so at belfastcitymarathon.com/ When you register you will have the option to support Air Ambulance NI. If you tick this box the charity team will be in touch with your digital fundraising pack and invitation to the helicopter airbase so you can personally see the service you are fundraising for.
If running isn’t your thing, you can also show your support on marathon day by joining their cheer stations along the marathon route. The charity hopes to have 100 volunteers making lots of noise and shaking their poms-poms for the participants.
n To join in or for more information please call 028 9262 2677
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.
