Our medics perform life-saving treatment at the scene for patients who are critically injured. It’s thanks to our supporters that we can run this service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

But now we are facing a new challenge. Our helicopters are becoming increasingly difficult to maintain and by 2024 it will be a challenge to keep them operational.

We need to raise £15 million to be able to replace the current helicopter fleet by 2024.

To help us do so, today we launched the Up Against Time appeal.

As part of this launch, hundreds of volunteers, staff and off-duty crew from across the charity are on the streets of London this morning (4 October) collecting vital donations in our Big City Collection. Please do say hello if you see them!

To mark the appeal we’re also sharing Claire’s story.

Claire was attended to by London’s Air Ambulance in 2020 after her partner stabbed her several times in her sleep. You can read Claire’s story and watch her video here.

Dr Tom Hurst, Medical Director at London’s Air Ambulance Charity, said: “In Claire’s case, her injuries meant it was absolutely critical that we were able to get to her quickly and treat her on scene; there was simply no time to get to hospital. Now she has her whole life in front of her; it is a poignant reminder of the urgent need to replace our helicopter fleet. We’re a charity and without your support, there is no life-saving air ambulance service for Londoners.”

Recent public polling has shown that over one in four people in London (26 per cent) have been personally affected by traumatic injury or have a friend or family member who has. But only 38 per cent of Londoners know that London’s Air Ambulance is primarily funded by public donations.

As a charity, London’s Air Ambulance relies on 89 per cent of its funding from people like you to be able to save London’s most critically injured.