Christmas

This year, I’ll be lucky enough to spend Christmas with my family. Last year, I was on duty, ensuring our service was available for anyone who needed it. 

Working on Christmas Day is never easy. We leave our families at home, miss out on opening presents with our kids, meals with the family, and soaking in the Christmas joy. But we also understand the importance of our missions and being available 24/7. However hard it is to miss those family moments, we know our role is vital and that it could truly be the difference between life and death.  

Just a few weeks ago, I was sent to rural Hawke's Bay where a patient had been pinned under a fallen tree. His location was so inaccessible that the only option to get him out was our crew winching him out and providing him with the medical care he required. Without our service, the outcome for that patient would’ve been very different. I’m so proud of the service we provide and the difference we make.  

This Christmas could be one of the toughest times for someone in our beautiful region and it’s thanks to donors like you that we can give them the best possible chance to make it home. Every second counts and our Rescue Helicopter service is often the difference between tragedy and survival.  

We can’t do it without you. 

This Christmas, we’re asking for your help to keep our helicopter in the air, our crew ready, and vital equipment at hand - because when a life hangs in the balance, your support makes all the difference.