The prestigious event, held at the Greenwood Hotel & Spa, was a night of entertainment and charitable giving. Appetite for the hosted event was strong with over 200 property professionals in attendance. Guests were treated to an evening of comedy, by Ian Irving, and dined in the presence of three uniformed EHAAT paramedics who provided a deeper understanding of the charity’s incredible work and the impact of Beresfords longstanding support.
EHAAT is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and is on a mission to raise vital funds to invest in their fleet, specifically the purchase of a new AW169 Helicopter to replace one currently on lease. Their hope is to take ownership of this new £8.5 million helicopter in Spring 2024 and this year they launched a campaign to raise the final £1 million needed to achieve their target. By owning their aircraft, the charity will save a significant amount of money every year, and further enhance their ability to provide life-saving services across Essex, Hertfordshire, and surrounding areas, attending an average of six patients every day. In 2022, the charity attended over 2,500 missions, across both counties, supporting people facing the worst days of their lives.
This year’s Property Dinner marks the first since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, Beresfords has remained steadfast in its commitment to EHAAT, supporting the charity for an impressive 10 years and raising a remarkable £90,000 during that time.
Nicki Treffers, Director of New Business and Marketing, Beresfords, stated, “We are delighted to host this annual Property Dinner in support of the Essex & Herts Air Ambulance. The work they do is invaluable, and we are committed to contributing to their mission of acquiring a new helicopter. I would like to thank so many of our friends and colleagues for attending, especially our event sponsors Birkett Long and Iron Bridge Finance. By coming together as a community and supporting this cause, we can make a real difference to the lives of those in need.”
Jane Gurney, CEO of EHAAT, expressed her gratitude, saying, “As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, we are deeply thankful for the unwavering support we’ve received from Beresfords Property Group over the past 10 years. Their dedication and the funds they have raised have been instrumental in our mission to providing life-saving services to the communities we serve. We were thrilled to mark this milestone at the Property Dinner and have been delighted with the event’s success.”
Lisa Snowdon became an ambassador for EHAAT after an introduction during her time on Celebrity MasterChef in 2022. An episode, filmed at the charity’s North Weald airbase, saw the eight semi-finalist celebrity chefs cook lunch for the team, which included medics, pilots and charity support staff. Lisa went on to be crowned the 2022 Celebrity Masterchef winner and has worked with EHAAT ever since as a celebrity ambassador.
Lisa expressed her enthusiasm, saying, ““What a night! Thank you Beresfords – it was fantastic, and so much fun! But most importantly, thank you to everyone who joined us on the evening and for the incredible support shown to Essex & Herts Air Ambulance – together we will save lives. I would really encourage you to find out more about this amazing local charity, the new helicopter plans and how you can get involved and help make it happen. They can’t fly without you.”
EHAAT, often mistaken for being part of the NHS, operates independently as a charity. Serving as a valuable partner to the NHS, EHAAT team members are stationed alongside East of England Ambulance Service dispatchers on the Critical Care Desk, continuously monitoring incoming calls likely to necessitate an air ambulance team. On average, their teams are dispatched six times a day either by helicopter or rapid response vehicle (RRV), swiftly responding to medical emergencies. These highly skilled critical care teams consist of a pilot, co-pilot, pre-hospital care doctor, and critical care paramedic. Each EHAAT helicopter and RRV is equipped with life-saving resources, including a supply of blood, a critical asset not readily available in standard road ambulances. With each mission costing approximately £2,200, the charity heavily relies on the generosity and support of the local community.
Beresfords Property Group aims to make a significant impact on EHAAT’s fundraising efforts, ensuring that they can continue to provide essential pre-hospital emergency medical services to everyone in need across the region.
