Keep the ICRR Air Ambulance flying
UPDATE: I've changed the target on this campaign given the current COVID19 pandemic.
The new target is €175000.
Each lifesaving mission is about €3500, so the target breakdowns to about 50 lifesaving missions. That's 50 people who are seriously ill or injured that we could help save with hitting this target. We can't all be Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) pilots or professional medics, but we can save a life by keeping this crew flying.
Thank you.
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The ICRR Air Ambulance is a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service. It's mission is to respond to people at their greatest time of need in Ireland via emergency 999/112 calls. This Air Ambulance can really mean the difference between life and death.
The ICRR Air Ambulance has flown on mission over 250 times in just 5 months of service. The success of the Air Ambulance has meant we’ve flown many more missions than anticipated, which means increased costs to keep the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) flying. In such a short time, the ICRR Air Ambulance has already helped in excess of 200 patients, their families and their communities by responding rapidly to them when they need help the most. These missions have been in both challenging rural locations and in towns and cities right across the country.
The future is in your hands; ICRR estimates that over 600 missions could be flown in 2020 and those 600 lifesaving missions are in jeopardy without immediate funding.
Whats been raised so far? Over €700,000 has been raised by the public, donors and benefactors to date, but a further €400,000 is needed to keep flying and saving lives.
The ICRR Air Ambulance must fundraise for the provision of the helicopters, pilots, air base facilities, insurance, firefighting and other operational needs to provide the vital service. Other costs that the charity must receive donations for in order to pay, are VAT costs on the service, which cost the charity and its donors hundreds of thousands of euro per year.
The ICRR Air Ambulance could be called on to help you or your loved one next. I’m asking on behalf of the people we can save in the future, please ensure that we are there to help.
About The ICRR Air Ambulance
The ICRR Air Ambulance is run in partnership between the charity and the HSE NAS. NAS tasks the service through 112 / 999 calls to its National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) and provides the medical crew. However, the helicopter, pilots, air-base and fuel are being 100% funded solely by the charity.
Since 30th July 2019, the ICRR Air Ambulance has responded to over 250 lifesaving missions. That is 250 patients, 250 families and 250 communities supported by the ICRR Air Ambulance!
The ICRR Air Ambulance is 100% CHARITY funded, meaning we get no assistance or support from the Irish Government in providing the helicopter, pilots, hangar, maintenance, fuel, logistics, firefighting; basically everything needed to bring medics to the scene of an incident rapidly by air.
The ICRR Air Ambulance needs YOUR support to keep it flying. Without this support and this funding, we cannot fly further missions. Please support us now.
A Patient's Story
"I packed my motorbike and I set out for a relaxing spin from Waterford to Valentia. I'd gone ahead to buy new motorcycle boots in Cork and was planning on meeting my friends on the way, when suddenly, I found myself in big trouble.
When I left home, I never thought I'd spend the morning in a helicopter going to hospital; I'd been involved in a motorbike accident with some life changing injures, thankfully someone called 999, and tried to comfort me from the pain. I was lucky that within minutes, the ICRR Air Ambulance was hovering overhead I could not believe how fast it all happened then the ICRR Air Ambulance quickly brought me to CUH, and after a month in hospital I could go home.
It could have been so much worse, as a biker, we're so vulnerable and reliant on other road users to be vigilant but I'm so grateful to ICRR for helping me when I really needed it. Now they need us, it could be you they help tomorrow or a family member, so donate now". 
About ICRR
The preventable loss of a child’s life in West Cork in 2006 was the catalyst that led to the formation of Irish Community Rapid Response (ICRR). Galvanised by the tragedy, community members embarked on a mission: to expedite the delivery of professional A&E care to life-threatening emergencies in rural or disadvantaged urban areas.
Why a Go Fund Me Page
I'm Ruth Bruton, from Co. Cork and I'm raising money for ICRR as I'm passionate about the mission and I want to see it continue to help more people into the future! So many lives have been saved, but the charity is now at risk of grounding its air services without support today.
I work with and volunteer for this worthy cause, and I have seen first hand the immense impact that it makes in communities right across Ireland. It can only continue with your support.
The funds will spent on flying emergency lifesaving missions, bringing ill and injured people the medical care that they need at the scene of the incident, and then rapidly transporting them by air the hospital that best suits their needs. Both babies and adults have already benefited from this service, and everyday there are more people who may need the lifesaving help that this charitably funded service can provide.
The funds raised here will go directly to the ICRR Air Ambulance so that they can continue their mission, you can find out lots more information on their website www.icrr.ie.
ICRR are also a registered charity:
Charities Regulatory Authority (CRA) 20070762
Companies Registration Office (CRO) 459255
Revenue (Charities Unit) (CHY) 18454
Photo Credit for main photo: Pat Flynn Photography
Photo Credit for last photo: Paul Daly
