The Air Ambulance Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS) Coronavirus Emergency Appeal has now raised more than £250,000 – nearing the halfway mark of its initial fundraising target.
Launched in April, the KSS Coronavirus Emergency Appeal needs to raise at least £535,000. The funds will help KSS to continue providing its vital life-saving services, alongside its frontline work to support in the fight against Coronavirus.
KSS is a registered charity and is reliant upon public donations for 89% of the £14M it costs each year to operate its life-saving service. The additional costs of maintaining its service safely at the current time are significant, with full protection controls required for crews, patients and the aircraft.
Lynne Harris, Executive Director of Income Generation at KSS, said: “We want to thank the 4,500 people who have supported our Coronavirus Emergency Appeal to date. Local residents, community groups and businesses have united to support us and we are greatly encouraged by the response.”
“But there is still a long way to go. Our charity provides a vital service for the people of Kent, Surrey and Sussex – a service which is currently not provided by the NHS but which works in partnership with it.”
“We urge everyone to donate to our appeal, if possible, so that we can continue to save as many lives as possible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”
Celebrity Support
Former Strictly Come Dancing Judge, Len Goodman, and much-loved actor, Dame Penelope Keith DBE, DL are supporting the KSS Coronavirus Emergency Appeal. In a video message recorded for KSS, Len Goodman said:
“I am proud to be supporting the KSS Coronavirus Emergency Appeal. They provide life-saving work every day of the year but they have now been called to join the fight against coronavirus alongside the NHS. They need your urgent support now. The more you can support them, the more lives they can help to save.”
Dame Penelope Keith said:
“I am pleased to be supporting the KSS Coronavirus Emergency Appeal. They are calling for the public’s support now, more than ever. They, like many other charities, are facing extreme fundraising challenges and need our urgent help.”
“I have seen the incredible work they do every day of the year and now in addition to their core service, they are working alongside the NHS to help save even more lives.”
“I want to say an enormous thank you to all of the marvellous people who have already made a donation to KSS. You are helping them to continue responding to those most in need of specialist care, as well as supporting the NHS to safely transfer coronavirus patients. From myself and everyone at Team KSS, thank you.”
How to Help
KSS has outlined a number of items that the organisation needs as part of its Coronavirus Emergency Appeal:
– £35 could fund 200 fluid repellent surgical masks
– £50 could fund 50 ventilator filters for infection control within the aircraft
– £620 could fund a Versaflo respirator to help patients to breathe and protect them from hazardous substances
Donations can be made online at www.aakss.org.uk/appeal
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