An incredible 2,300 people attended our Heli Hike in Kent and Heli Fun Day, making it one of the biggest fundraising events in our charity’s history. The events at The Friars Aylesford Priory on Saturday 21 September brought together families, friends, and supporters for a day filled with lots of different activities and plenty of excitement.
Over 300 heli-hikers took on scenic routes across the beautiful Kent countryside, with options for all ages and abilities. Participants included individuals, families, groups, and their dogs.
One of our helicopters was operational from the event, providing an exciting showcase of the charity’s lifesaving work. It had to leave after being called to respond to an emergency. We were delighted to be joined by representatives of other emergency services, including Kent Police, SERV, and Larkfield Fire Station.
The Heli Fun Day, a new part of the event, featured a fun mix of family attractions including local stalls, games, bouncy castles and delicious food vendors, ensuring there was something for everyone to enjoy.
Lauren Simmons, Head of Events at KSS said: “So far, the events have raised over £20,000, with that number set to rise as more donations and sponsorships come in. A big thank you and well done to everyone involved, this is a massive achievement – one of the biggest events in our history!
“I’d like to thank everyone who helped put on the event, including our dedicated volunteers and former patients, and to all our amazing supporters for coming along. As a charity we depend on support from the communities we serve. Without your support, we can’t get off the ground and we can’t save lives.”
The charity’s next fundraising events are Heli Hike in Sussex at Cowdray Estate, Midhurst, on Saturday 5 October and Heli Hike at Night in Mote Park, Maidstone on Saturday 26 October.
