It's Air Ambulance Week: an annual event that brings together the UK's 21 air ambulance charities to raise awareness and vital funds for the lifesaving pre-hospital care we deliver every day.
With our advanced doctors and critical care paramedics treating patients in Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and across the East of England 24/7, your support for Magpas Air Ambulance helps get critical care to patients when it’s needed most.
To mark the national event, this Air Ambulance Week, donations made to Magpas Air Ambulance will be doubled! Thanks to our wonderful supporter and philanthropist, Rowhi Nemar, matching the first £1,000 donated between 7-13 September.
Magpas Air Ambulance is busier than ever; reaching record levels of activity in the last year. In 2026 so far, our lifesaving medical team has responded to 1,289 emergency missions. In response, during Air Ambulance Week, landmarks, communities and businesses across the region are turning orange in support of the 24/7 lifesaving service that receives no government funding.
This Air Ambulance Week:
- We launched the week on a Magpas Air Ambulance-themed punt with Scudamore’s punting company
- Local landmarks such as Ely Cathedral, The Guildhall in Cambridge and Bedford Corn Exchange and Town Bridge will light up in orange on Wednesday, 9 September
- We’re teaching vital CPR and defibrillator skills at events across the region
- Local companies such as Sepura and Delta Hotels by Marriott are taking on fundraising and challenge events to raise funds
- Bedford Blues rugby club will have a Magpas Air Ambulance collection at their Bedford Blues vs Bath game on Friday, 11 September
- The week culminates with Magpas Air Ambulance at IWM Duxford's air show on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September, where visitors can meet the team and find out more about the charity's work.
Anyone, anywhere in the UK could experience a medical emergency or traumatic injury at any time. In those critical moments, getting specialist doctors and paramedics to the patient quickly can mean the difference between life and death.
Each mission costs an average of £3,000 and, in total, the charity needs to raise more than £6 million every year to keep its service flying and relies entirely on donations from the public and support from local businesses to do so.
Daryl Brown MBE DL, CEO of Magpas Air Ambulance, says "Every one of the 1,289 missions we’ve responded to was someone in the East of England having the worst day of their life. The fact that we can be at their side within minutes, with the skills and equipment of an emergency department, is only possible because of the support from people and businesses based in Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and across the East of England. Air Ambulance Week helps us to highlight the critical care we provide, as well as this amazing support, and we invite everyone to become a part of keeping this service flying."
If you’d like to support Magpas Air Ambulance this week, you can make a donation to keep this local lifesaving charity flying. With donations being matched up to £1,000 this air ambulance week, you can double your impact when you donate today.
