The Great North Air Ambulance Service has recruited a fundraiser on the island in the hopes of increasing awareness and funds for the charity.
Since March 2022, GNAAS has responded more than 65 times to incidents on the island after the service was commissioned by Manx Care.
Currently GNAAS will continue responding on the island until the end of the financial year, with Manx Care funding the service based on a per-mission costing and the charity committing to strengthening its fundraising activities on the Island.
It is estimated that the charity needs to raise at least £124,000 per year to cover additional costs, specific to operating in the Isle of Man, such as safety equipment and crew training required for travelling over water.
Funds Needed
Thanks to the community’s support, monthly donations are currently averaging £5,000; however, this is only half of what the charity needs to sustain its service in the Isle of Man.
This led to the recruitment of Mandy Karsa, from Ballasalla, as a fundraiser for the Isle of Man, who will be helping to achieve the necessary funding target.
Mandy previously worked for a small charity which supports older people in the community who have become socially isolated, and did everything from making the tea to hosting big events and taking part in radio interviews.
She officially joined GNAAS last month and has already been getting involved in local fundraising events, such as a 24-hour Hyrox and a monthly Beetle drive, as well as representing GNAAS at the Royal Manx Agricultural Show and Southern District Agricultural Show.
Fundraising
Mandy said: “It’s been really lovely speaking to people at the events and getting feedback from them regarding the charity. Because the Isle of Man is such a small community, everybody knows each other, and people are quite keen to find out how GNAAS benefits them.
“I’m really looking forward to the challenge ahead and everyone at the charity seems lovely.”
If you would like to get in touch with Mandy regarding fundraising on the Isle of Man, email: mandy.karsa@gnaas.co.uk
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