A starry night for London’s Air Ambulance as gala raises £1.2 million

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales joined actor Tom Cruise and others at a gala in central London to raise much needed funds for London’s Air Ambulance Charity as it seeks to meet its target of £15m to fund two new helicopters by autumn this year.

London’s Air Ambulance Charity hosted its largest ever single fundraising event, raising a record £1.2 million at its gala at Raffles London.  The charity still needs to raise more than £5m with eight months left of the fundraising appeal, ‘Up Against Time.’

The charity is called to London’s most severe trauma cases, delivering life-saving emergency medical care at the roadside and conducting procedures usually only seen in a hospital.   

The Prince met with doctors, pilots and paramedics from the service, speaking to the team about their life-saving work.

“As a former pilot for East Anglia Air Ambulance, I know just how vital the work of air ambulance teams across the country is, and the truly life-saving difference it can make to deliver urgent medical care wherever injury strikes. “

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales.

Jonathan Jenkins, CEO of London’s Air Ambulance Charity thanked the Charity’s Royal Patron for his continued support and sponsors Chopard, Hinduja Foundation, Corsair, Akademy Club and Viaro Energy.

“Their belief in our cause means we can continue to be there for everyone in London, whenever they need us.” 

Jonathan Jenkins, CEO of London’s Air Ambulance Charity.

London’s Air Ambulance delivers an advanced trauma team, made up of a doctor and paramedic, to bring the hospital to the scene via helicopter or rapid response car when time is of the essence. The expert teams can reach anywhere in London in under 11 minutes.  

Primarily funded by charitable donations, the service is also run in partnership with Barts Health NHS Trust and the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust. Barts Health NHS Trust provides the doctors, some financial support and the helipad facilities at The Royal London Hospital. The London Ambulance Service NHS Trust provides the paramedics and the emergency infrastructure to dispatch the service 24 hours a day.  

To read more about how London’s Air Ambulance operates, read this Emergency Services Times article on how data informs how it deploys resources when every second counts.