Matt from Outlaws MC Lichfield has kindly donated £370 to the HELP Appeal after taking part in the Doormen Charity Boxing Match at ATIK in Tamworth on 30 August 2026.

Proceeds from ticket sales and donations were shared among the competitors’ chosen charities. Matt, a motorcyclist who injured his ribs during his match, chose to support the HELP Appeal because he understands how access to a helipad can make a vital difference after an accident or emergency.

He presented the donation at a recent Green Turtles Bike Show. Thank you to Matt, everyone who supported the boxing match, and the Green Turtles for helping make the donation possible.

Steve Judge will help raise awareness of the charity’s mission and importance of NHS hospital helipads that give patients immediate access to Emergency Departments.

The HELP Appeal is delighted to announce that Steve Judge has become an ambassador for the charity. Drawing on his experience of a near-fatal car accident, Steve will help raise awareness of why hospital helipads are a vital part of emergency care.

Steve was treated at Sheffield Northern General Hospital, which has a helipad that was built thanks to a £1million donation from the HELP Appeal. The accident crushed both of Steve’s legs, and he was told he might never walk again. He set himself ambitious goals through a long rehabilitation, eventually becoming a twice World Champion in paratriathlon. His experience has given him a personal understanding of how much timely medical treatment can mean.

Hospitals and air ambulance helicopters are essential when someone is critically injured, but the journey between them matters too. The HELP Appeal funds hospital helipads that allow helicopters to land close to specialist care, helping patients reach treatment as quickly as possible during the critical period often called the “golden hour”.

Steve explains in his book ‘Gold,’ the significance of time in a medical emergency:

“Time is precious; time is delicate and it should be nurtured and looked after. Time should be respected because it is critical – none more so than when time literally means life or death.”

He adds:

“After my accident, I understood how suddenly a life can change. Getting the right care quickly can give someone the best possible chance of survival and recovery. I’m proud to support the HELP Appeal and help more people understand why helipads matter.”

Sally Abbott, Head of Fundraising at the HELP Appeal, said:

“Steve’s determination is remarkable, and his experience gives him a powerful voice for this cause. We’re delighted to welcome him as an ambassador. With Steve’s support, we want more people to recognise that a helipad is a crucial link between an air ambulance and the hospital care a patient urgently needs.”

A huge thank you to the Green Turtles Swimming Club for supporting the HELP Appeal at their No Frills Bike Show at the Samuel Barlow, Alvecote Marina. With live bands, bike show, games and camping, it was a wonderful way to bring people together to help support our lifesaving work.

The Green Turtles have supported us for many years, and we’re very grateful for their continued generosity. Their support helps us fund lifesaving NHS hospital helipads, giving critically ill and injured patients faster access to the care they need.

Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the event possible.

Acorn Motor Group has announced its support for the County Air Ambulance Trust HELP Appeal, the only charity in the country dedicated to funding NHS hospital helipads beside Emergency Departments, helping to ensure critically ill patients can receive lifesaving care as quickly as possible after landing in an air ambulance.

Funds raised through the partnership will help the HELP Appeal to donate to vital emergency infrastructure and equipment across the country, including projects that directly benefit communities across the Midlands and North West.

Lifesaving projects funded by the HELP Appeal include:

• Helipads at Major Trauma Centres including University Hospital Aintree, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Salford Royal Hospital, Royal Preston Hospital, Leeds General Infirmary, Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital and Sheffield Children’s Hospital, ensuring patients can be flown directly to specialist emergency care.
• A dedicated weather station for the Royal Stoke University Hospital helipad, improving flight safety and helping air ambulances land in challenging weather conditions.
• Critical car cars for Midlands Air Ambulance and North West Air Ambulance, helping critical care teams reach patients wherever they are needed.
• Funding for two Midlands Air Ambulance Charity air bases, supporting the operational infrastructure needed to deliver lifesaving pre-hospital care.
• Medical equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) used by emergency response teams to provide advanced care at the scene of incidents.

Acorn Motor Group’s support will also help to fund future projects that continue to strengthen emergency care where they are needed most. For example, the HELP Appeal is funding important safety improvements to the Royal Stoke Hospital helipad, including automatic road barriers and warning systems that stop traffic and pedestrians when an air ambulance is arriving or departing. The project also includes improved lighting, clearer road markings and other upgrades to help ensure patients, staff and visitors remain safe while keeping the helipad operating efficiently.

Chris Melville, Group Business and Partnership Manager, Acorn Motor Group added:

“We are incredibly proud to be a partner of the County Air Ambulance Trust HELP Appeal. At Acorn Motor Group, we believe it’s important to support organisations that make a real difference in our local communities and beyond.

“The HELP Appeal plays a vital role in helping save lives, supporting air ambulance services and providing essential funding for life-saving equipment and facilities.

“It’s a privilege for Acorn Motor Group to play a small part in supporting such an incredible charity and the amazing work they do every single day.”

Denise Rowe, Fundraising Executive at the HELP Appeal, said:

“We’re very grateful that Acorn Motor Group has chosen to support the HELP Appeal. Their commitment will help us continue funding projects that make a real difference to emergency care across the Midlands, the North West and beyond. From hospital helipads and critical care vehicles to specialist equipment and infrastructure, every pound raised will help ensure patients can receive lifesaving treatment as quickly as possible. We look forward to working with the team and seeing the positive impact their support will have on patients and emergency services alike.” 

To help raise funds, Acorn Motor Group will host an exciting programme of local and team events, alongside exclusive competitions offering people the chance to win a brand-new car for the weekend.

About Acorn Motor Group

Acorn Motor Group is one of the UK’s leading automotive retail groups, representing a range of respected vehicle brands across the Midlands and North West. Through its commitment to supporting local communities, Acorn Motor Group partners with charities and organisations that make a meaningful difference to people’s lives.

The HELP Appeal enjoyed a fantastic day at the Moorlands Show, which helped to raise more than £300 for lifesaving work.

We attended the event at the invitation of Councillor Linda Malyon, Chair of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council and a dedicated supporter of the Ipstones Agricultural Show.

As the largest agricultural show in the district, the event provided an excellent opportunity to introduce the HELP Appeal’s lifesaving work to the local community.

We loved speaking to visitors about the charity’s projects across the country, including the recent donation of £814,000 to cover the entire cost of the helipad upgrade at the Royal Stoke University Hospital, demonstrating the direct impact the charity is having within the local community.

We were also kindly supported by Molly Stone who is running the London Marathon in 2027 in aid of the HELP Appeal, who kept visitors entertained with a popular tombola, raising just over £300, which will help support the development of hospital helipads that help critically ill patients receive urgent treatment as quickly as possible.

A group of 46 walkers raised an incredible £7,321, plus Gift Aid, for the HELP Appeal by taking on the scenic Tissington Trail through the Peak District.

The fundraiser was organised by Graham and Carole Cluer, with support from friends, family and members of their local community.

Carole and Graham first learned about the HELP Appeal’s lifesaving work after joining Denise Rowe and fellow supporters for a 10-mile nighttime walk beside the River Thames.

“It was a marvellous evening, even if it was a little wet!” they said. “As well as raising thousands of pounds, there was a wonderful sense of community.”

Like many people, Carole and Graham had previously assumed that hospital helipads were funded by the NHS. After discovering how the HELP Appeal funds new and upgraded helipads, and learning more about the vital role they play in emergency helicopter transfers, the couple decided to organise a fundraising walk closer to home.

The cause became especially meaningful after their friend and local farmer, Sue Gould, was seriously injured in a tractor accident, bringing the importance of air ambulances and hospital helipads home to the whole village.

On 18 July, walkers from the village and across the country gathered to take on the Tissington Trail, a former railway line winding through the beautiful Peak District.

A huge thank you to Winchcombe Cycling Club and Cheltenham and County Cycling Club for organising the latest Hell of the North Cotswolds (HONC) 2026 cycling event.

The challenging 100km, 75km and 50km routes all set off from the historic Sudeley Castle in Winchcombe, taking riders on a mix of on and off-road trails through the stunning Cotswold countryside.

A fleet of three state-of-the-art rapid response vehicles has entered service today (25 August 2026), strengthening Great Western Air Ambulance Charity’s (GWAAC) ability to deliver lifesaving critical care by road, whatever the weather or terrain, alongside the charity’s helicopter.

GWAAC’s new cars are a significant investment in the charity’s operational capability. The three Volvo XC90s replace the charity’s older fleet of Skoda Kodiaqs that are nearing the end of their serviceable life. The new cars have been fitted to emergency response standards; ready to respond to people in urgent need across GWAAC’s region of Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and parts of Wiltshire.

A huge thank you to everyone who supported our Charity Golf Day at The Mount Golf and Country Club in Wolverhampton on Friday 21 August 2026.

Teams enjoyed a fantastic day of friendly Stableford competition, beginning with breakfast rolls and refreshments before a shotgun start at noon. After a great round of golf, guests gathered for a delicious Nepalese buffet, prize presentation, music from Dan Hatton and charity auction.

The HELP Appeal has funded a £56,340 upgrade to the Deck Integrated Fire Fighting System (DIFFS) on the rooftop helipad at King’s College Hospital.

The charity originally covered the cost of DIFFS while also donating £2.75 million towards the helipad’s construction ten years ago. Since then, the helipad has received over 3,320 landings, helping critically ill patients reach specialist hospital care more quickly.

The funding enabled the hospital to replace its fluorinated firefighting foam with a fluorine-free product, following changes to environmental legislation.

How does DIFFS work?

DIFFS is an automated fire-suppression system designed for rooftop helipads. Nozzles built into the deck spray water and foam, suppressing a fire within 15 seconds.

This rapid response protects the helipad, hospital and everyone on the deck, while reducing the risk of a hospital evacuation. It also allows air ambulance crews to continue treating and transferring critically ill patients without unnecessary delay.

DIFFS can also save a hospital approximately £250,000 annually by removing the need for a dedicated helipad firefighting team. These savings can be redirected to other lifesaving services.