The Friars, Aylesford Priory, Saturday 20 September
Our popular Heli Hike in Kent and Family Fun Day fundraising events are making a welcome return to The Friars, Aylesford Priory, on Saturday 20 September 2025.
As well as offering a memorable day out for all the family, Heli Hike in Kent and the Family Fun Day are raising vital funds to keep your local air ambulance charity flying and saving lives. The need for our charity’s service is as great as ever – in 2024-25 our crews responded to over 3,100 incidents.
Heli Hike in Kent, sponsored by Group 1 Toyota Medway, is a family-friendly walk through the beautiful Kent countryside, with a choice of 3 or 7.5-mile routes. Every step you take helps fund our lifesaving work across the region. Sign up now: aakss.org.uk/kent-hike
All participants will receive an eco-friendly medal and a complimentary drink at the finish line, generously donated by Kent and Sussex Drinks. Every finisher will receive a hero’s welcome from members of Team KSS.
Running alongside the Heli Hike is the exciting Family Fun Day, packed with activities for all ages. With funfair rides, live music, games, food stalls, a bouncy castle, face painting and more, there is something for all the family.
Visitors can meet the charity’s lifesaving crew and get up close to the KSS helicopter (subject to operational availability). Young lifesavers can take on fun and educational challenges in the `Mini Medic Mission’, a fun and educational obstacle course for children aged 2 to 12, created by Skye, the KSS mascot.
Ahead of Restart a Heart with KSS this October, there will be a chance to learn how to give lifesaving CPR and use a defibrillator with KSS crew members, gaining skills and confidence that could help you to save the life of a loved one. These skills are vital to learn as across Kent, Surrey and Sussex, most cardiac arrests in the community happen within the home or a private address (74%), so you could be the only person there if it happens to a mum, dad, brother, sister, grandparent or best friend. Currently only 1 in 10 people survive. The first minutes after a cardiac arrest are crucial and the most important thing you can do is start CPR and use a defibrillator as soon possible, ahead of the emergency services arriving – doing this can more than double chance of survival.
Emergency services that work alongside KSS will also be showcasing their work, including; South East Coast Ambulance Service, Kent Fire and Rescue, SERV Kent (blood bikers), Safer Road Users and Southeast 4×4 Response.
Lauren Simmons, Head of Events at KSS, said: “Our Heli Hike and Family Fun Day in Kent provide a fantastic day out for all ages, supporting a truly lifesaving cause. Whether you’re hiking, learning CPR, or enjoying the entertainment, you’ll be helping us continue our vital work across Kent and beyond.
“On average, we make nine lifesaving missions a day to people who suddenly become critically injured or ill. Most have been involved in road traffic collisions or experienced medical emergencies like cardiac arrest or stroke. We hope you never need us — but by joining us, you’ll help ensure we’re there if the worst does happen.”
Why your support matters
It costs £57K a day — or £20.8M a year — to run our lifesaving service. 91% of our charity’s regular income comes from our communities, so your support is more important than ever.
Ticket information
- Heli Hike: £10 (adults), £8 (children). Use code helicopter10 for a 10% discount.
Sign up at: aakss.org.uk/kent-hike
- Family Fun Day: £2.50 (free for children under two).
Sign up at: aakss.org.uk/kent-fun-day
