WHEN THE HEART STOPS,
THE CLOCK STARTS.
Help us reach people fast this Christmas. Thank you.
Your donation of:
Messages to our crew from recent donors
It costs around £57,000 a day to keep our service flying. This Christmas, the gift of life is in your hands. Thank you.
In the time it takes you to read this sentence, your heart will beat six
times. Now eight… ten… twelve…
Life can change in a heartbeat.
On the same day, at almost exactly the same time, two lives hung in the balance. Jon collapsed while cycling near Sevenoaks. Martyn went down just 50 metres from the finish line at a parkrun in Sittingbourne. People nearby began CPR and used a defibrillator. We launched two helicopters and two medical teams. Our crews took over, placed them on life support at the scene, and flew them to specialist cardiac care. Minutes mattered. By air, the journeys took about 10 minutes. By road they would have taken more than 40.
Those 30 minutes helped save their lives.
THIS CHRISTMAS THE GIFT OF LIFE IS IN YOUR HANDS
25 PEOPLE
approximately the number of people day across Kent, Surrey and Sussex have a cardiac arrest at home or in the community
EVERY MINUTE
someone's heart isn't beating their chance of survival drops by 10%
ONLY 1 IN 10
people survive cardiac arrest
A heartbeat apart. The stories of John and Martyn
On the same day, at almost exactly the same time, two lives hung in the balance.
Early intervention is critical to what we call ‘The Chain of Survival’. When people on the ground keep hearts beating and oxygen flowing, KSS doctors and paramedics can arrive quickly to place patients on life support at the scene. This stabilises people like Jon and Martyn, ensuring oxygen reaches their brain and keeping vital organs – including the heart, liver and kidneys – functioning properly. Then, KSS pilots like Dave Gifford can fly patients to specialist cardiac care in hospital as fast as possible.
When every second counts. Every £1 matters.
Every second counts to get expert medical help to get to the scene, fast. This can mean the difference between survival and heartbreak.
It costs us £1.2 million each year to respond to the most critical cardiac arrest patients across Kent, Surrey and Sussex.
A year at KSS
Two .
Thanks to people like you
Jon's story
"Without Tina, Alan and the others who gave me CPR, I wouldn’t be here."
On 4 March 2023 I’d gone out cycling as I normally did with my club, Sidcup Cycles, I was 58. As usual we’d gone out at half eight on a Saturday morning to do 40 or 50 miles Usually we’d ride out to somewhere in the Kent countryside with a stop halfway for a coffee break.
I don’t remember what happened, but I later learned that I suffered a cardiac arrest and I ended up leaning against a bush while still on my bike, which made it hard for the people around me to work out what had happened as it looked like I was still trying to ride the bike.
Martyn’s story
"We are both living proof that knowing how to do CPR can save a life."
In December 2022 I had given up the delivery job because the traffic around Sittingbourne was getting too stressful. The following February I was asked if I would like to go along to our local Parkrun and do a 5K because I enjoy walking.
I got to within 50 metres of the finish. My friend Dave and my daughter, who’d both finished, came out to run across the line with me. At that moment I collapsed. My eyes were rolling and I was gasping like a fish and it was clear to the people with me that something was badly wrong.
Rosemary Jones - November 3, 2026
Donated: £50.00
"Thank you so much for doing such a wonderful, life saving job. Long may you continue."
James Paine - November 2, 2026
Donated: £135.00
"In memory of Alan Garside, a great Pilot and Instructor, whose contribution to Aviation at Kent Gliding Club was highly respected and will be sorely missed."
Vivien Spiller - October 31, 2026
Donated: £75.00
"I will not enter youy Christmas raffle but will donate."
Anonymous - October 29, 2026
Donated: £50.00
"My elderly mum recently passed but strongly supported the Kent Air Ambulance for a long time. She never needed their service but felt they were her ‘safety net’ if ever needed. Close family arranged flowers at her farewell but some others made donations. Thank you"
Active Transpirt Ltd - October 24, 2026
Donated: £500.00
"You are amazing, thank you"
Anonymous - October 21, 2026
Donated: £20.00
"In memory of John Hunt"
Ivan Morgan - October 20, 2026
Donated: £100.00
"I had an exhibition of my 101 automata at Ringmer Village Hall on Saturday and visitors kindly made charity donations to your worthy cause."
Alison Brixton - October 19, 2026
Donated: £330.00
"Please accept this as proceeds from the raffle at our Quiz last month. You do such amazing work. Thank you to you all. Crafty Quizzers."
Derek Betts - October 19, 2026
Donated: £150.00
"To enable you to keep up the good work that you do"
Derek Betts - October 19, 2026
Donated: N/A
"To enable you to keep up the good work that you do"
Anonymous - October 19, 2026
Donated: £50.00
"Well done, and huge thanks for your incredible and most valued work."
David Myhill - October 18, 2026
Donated: £20.00
"For the Daniel Squires memorial ride. Rain stopped me riding this year but this is my cake money."
Mayfield Grammar School Grasend - October 14, 2026
Donated: £128.59
"This money was raised By Miss McCormack and who is head of House Penfold of Mayfield Grammar School Gravesend"
Peter Hughes - October 9, 2026
Donated: £10.00
"From lewes scouts"
Peter Hughes - October 9, 2026
Donated: N/A
"From lewes scouts"
Joanna Vaughan - October 8, 2026
Donated: £30.00
"Donating on behalf of my elderly Dad who is a lifelong supporter."
Philippines Community - October 8, 2026
Donated: £45.00
"On behalf of Philippines Community “Get Together Bingo” @Bowls Club Folkestone"
Janet Dunbar - October 7, 2026
Donated: £100.00
"This donation is in memory of Penny Coomber, our lovely sister-in-law and Auntie who passed away on her 81st birthday. She will walk with us for the rest of our days."
Patricia Gaglione - October 6, 2026
Donated: £20.00
"We wish to support your valuable work in saving people's lives"
Anonymous - October 6, 2026
Donated: £200.00
"Keep up the great work. Thank you."
Iain Oliver - October 4, 2026
Donated: £19.00
"Money raised from the monthly pub quiz at The Globe, Hythe."
Kurt Robinson - October 3, 2026
Donated: £20.00
"I won some money on a golf day today, and I told the guy at Thanet Way petrol station that I would donate."
Kurt Robinson - October 3, 2026
Donated: N/A
"I won some money on a golf day today, and I told the guy at Thanet Way petrol station that I would donate."
Marion Brown - September 30, 2026
Donated: £15.00
"In memory of Jonathan Tanner . You came out to him, but sadly he passed away. This donation is from Marion B. Thankyou for all that you do"
Anonymous - September 30, 2026
Donated: £50.00
"Many Thanks for the life saving work that you do."
Anonymous - September 30, 2026
Donated: £3,000.00
"We are all very grateful for your work and saving lives….. Long may it continue."
STEPHEN Luff - September 24, 2026
Donated: N/A
"Wonderful service that saved my life after a head on collision! near Battle two years ago on the 7th of October. You never know what will happen to you when driving so I strongly encourage everyone to give to the air ambulance. Such respect for all those who work for this Air Ambulance service ."
Crafters - September 23, 2026
Donated: £60.00
"Donation from Newington Craft Group, for all you do!"
Anonymous - September 23, 2026
Donated: £47.00
"Thanks for all the amazing work you do every day"