Ulster GAA donate £20,000 to charity partner Air Ambulance NI
Ulster GAA recently presented its chosen charity Air Ambulance NI (AANI) with a donation of over £20,000 from fundraising efforts in the past year.
In April 2023, nine high-profile GAA personalities from each of Ulster’s counties took on a 15,000 ft skydive to raise money for both the AANI service and the Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research at Queen’s University of Belfast, an event which received tremendous support from across the province.
Ulster GAA representatives recently visited the charity’s headquarters outside Lisburn to hand over the contribution, and meet with some of the AANI team to find out more about the life-saving work they carry out on a day-to-day basis.
Ulster GAA President Ciaran McLaughlin and Provincial Secretary/CEO Brian McAvoy were among attendees, as well as several of the GAA stars who took part in the skydive; GAA Uachtarán, Jarlath Burns, former Ulster Championship winning Monaghan star, Dessie Mone, and Derry & Slaughtneil All-Ireland winning camogie captain, Aoife Ní Chaiside.
In addition to the proceeds raised by the skydive, donations were also received from last month’s Ulster GAA Awards and annual Stewards’ Dinner, while awareness of the charity’s vital service was raised through coverage in matchday programmes and online campaigns throughout the season.
Ciarán McLaughlin, Ulster GAA President, commented:
“This contribution is a very significant figure and one which I know will go a long way to saving lives. At Ulster GAA we have been delighted to partner with Air Ambulance NI, and be able to support and publicise the hugely important work they do across the wider community.”
Damien McAnespie, Area Fundraising Manager for Air Ambulance NI, commented:
“Air Ambulance works in direct partnership with the NI Ambulance Service, providing the helicopter medical emergency service for the whole of the region, and in the last six and a half years the team has carried out over 4,000 taskings. As a charity, AANI relies on public support and every year £2.5m is needed to keep the service live and operational.
“We were absolutely delighted to be Ulster GAA’s chosen charity over the past year, with significant amount of funds being raised through the skydive and other events. I want to pay massive thanks for their support and contribution which is helping to save lives in our communities.”
You can support Air Ambulance NI by visiting www.airambulanceni.org.
