Ulster Hospital Team To Abseil Europa Hotel

On Saturday 12th October, a brave team of 12 staff members from the Ulster Hospital Intensive Care Unit will take on an exhilarating abseil down Belfast’s iconic Europa Hotel to raise vital funds for Air Ambulance Northern Ireland.

The group, made up of nurses and doctors , are swapping their scrubs for harnesses to show their support for a service that plays a crucial role in saving lives across the region. Accustomed to working in the high-pressure environment of intensive care, the team are no strangers to challenges, but this one will take them out of the hospital and onto the 13-storey façade of one of Belfast’s most recognisable buildings.

“We see first-hand the difference Air Ambulance NI makes to patients and families,” said Fiona Marshall. “Taking on this challenge is our way of giving back and helping ensure this lifesaving service is there when people need it most.”

Friends, family and colleagues will gather at the Europa Hotel to cheer on the ICU staff as they step over the edge and make their way down the building. The abseil promises to be a fantastic spectacle while raising crucial funds for a cause close to the team’s hearts. The team are encouraging the public to support their efforts by donating to their fundraising page: Fiona Marshall is fundraising for Air Ambulance Northern Ireland

Bebhionn Hardy, Community Fundraising Coordinator at Air Ambulance NI, said: “We are so grateful to the Ulster Hospital ICU team for taking on this incredible challenge. Their support not only raises funds but also vital awareness of the need to keep this service flying for everyone in Northern Ireland.”

The charity Air Ambulance NI, in partnership with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, provides the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service for Northern Ireland. The service brings urgent medical assistance to anywhere in the province, operating seven days a week for 12 hours per day. The HEMS team attend patients who are seriously ill or injured, bringing emergency pre-hospital care direct to the casualty with the aim of saving lives, brains and limbs. The aircraft can reach anywhere in Northern Ireland in approximately twenty-five minutes.

On average the medical team are called upon twice every day, whether that is as a result of a serious road traffic collision, farm or workplace accident, sport and leisure incident or a serious medical emergency.

Any patients or families of the HEMS are welcome to visit the airbase and should get in touch with Air Ambulance NI by calling 028 9262 2677.

As a local charity, Air Ambulance NI aspires to raise £3 million each year to maintain and sustain this service so public donations are crucial. One of the simplest ways to support is by becoming a member of Club AANI and donating via a monthly or annual subscription. Find out more by visiting www.airambulanceni.org alternatively you can contact the charity directly by emailing info@airambulanceni.org or calling 028 9262 2677.