Kate Chivers, the pioneering air ambulance service visionary who founded our charity, has been awarded the very first KSS Lifetime Achievement Award to mark our 35th anniversary.
The award was presented to Kate by our Chief Executive David Welch at an event to mark 35 years since we were launched in November 1989. Since then, we have carried out over 46,000 missions, saving thousands of lives and providing the best possible outcomes for patients, keeping more families and loved ones together.
David Welch said: “It is my pleasure to present the very first KSS Lifetime Achievement Award to Kate Chivers, a truly remarkable woman. We’ve been on an incredible journey during the past 35 years, thanks to the vision and determination of Kate and the amazing support of our staff, volunteers, former patients and their families, supporters and Trustees.“
We started as the South East Thames Air Ambulance, under the control of the regional health authority. When an initial three months of funding came to an end Kate saw the need to establish an independent charity to secure the future of the service.
Over the past 35 years we have grown to become one of the largest air ambulance services in the UK, serving a resident population of around 5M, and millions more transiting through the region every year. we cover much of the South East of England – 3,500 square miles across Kent, Surrey and Sussex.
KSS has become a world-leading Helicopter Emergency Medical Service with globally-renowned Pre-hospital Emergency Medicine clinicians as part of our remarkable crew and an established reputation for research and innovation helping to improve patient outcomes in the UK and further afield.
Kate said: “I can’t tell you how much this means to me. There’s nothing in this world that can’t be achieved with determination and the desire to make things better. We had a dream and looking at all you people; volunteers, staff, pilots, paramedics, doctors and Trustees, everyone, you are the embodiment of that dream. Thank you all so much.
“Who would have thought our fledging would become such a beautiful eagle? Anyone who was there at the beginning would be astonished and delighted at what has been achieved, which exceeds all expectations and hopes, a remarkable level of excellence that is exceptional.“What is most remarkable, is that this has been made possible through the outstanding support this charitable service has received from its donors and volunteers.“
Our 35th anniversary coincides with the start of the KSS Christmas Appeal, `Ready to Save Lives’ which is helping ensure that our specialist doctors and paramedics will be there for people across Kent Surrey and Sussex in their most urgent hour of need.
