The crew on the West Coast are often dealing with the most challenging of conditions and an average mission length is longer due to the vast distances. We are blessed to now have Westpac NZ as our associate sponsor; this new level of support underpins the service on the West Coast. The Critical Care Paramedics on the coast are the highest qualified medical resource available for the community. In areas like the West Coast, when there is an emergency, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter is the only option and can be the difference between life and death.
We extend a sincere thank you to ROA Mining for their significant support of the service over 13 years. Their generous commitment ensured that the West Coast community had access to this vital emergency response capability. ROA Mining will continue to support their community through their sponsorship of the New Zealand Flying Doctor Service. This sister service to the rescue helicopters is a regular visitor to the West Coast transporting patients between hospitals to the higher acuity care they need.
Left to right – Hernan, Peet, Joshua, Tom, Dazza
As well as fundraising to support missions on the West Coast we are working on a number of exciting projects to improve patient care and save more lives. Very soon, the existing BK-117 will be replaced with a state-of-the-art H145 helicopter that will have more advanced avionics. This will facilitate Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), allowing the crew to fly in lower cloud conditions, enabling the rescue helicopter to respond in more compromised weather conditions – a real game changer for the West Coast. This will be accompanied by equipment upgrades and advanced training, so the crew are fully prepared for all missions.
Mission support
Can you contribute to the cost of a mission or fund a lifesaving mission?
You can support a complete mission
1 mission- $5,000
2 missions – $10,000
4 missions – $20,000.
Or give a monthly gift – $20, $30, $50, or your choice
Special Projects Development Fund
The West Coast community is currently served by a twin engine H145.
| MAKE/MODEL | Airbus H145 |
| ENGINE | 2x turbomeca arriel 2E turboshaft |
| SHAFT HORSEPOWER | 1072 HP each engine (one engine inoperative) |
| CREW | 1 pilot, 1 critical care paramedic, 1 paramedic / winch operator |
| MAX SPEED | 278kph |
| CRUISE SPEED | 238kph |
| RANGE | 651 kilometres |
| SERVICE | 1 HELICOPTER AND CREW ON CALL 24/7 |
| MISSIONS | 300+ AVERAGE PER YEAR JUST ON THE WEST COAST |
Our community and corporate sponsors are greatly valued. Without their support our service would not be able to operate. The Canterbury West Coast Rescue Helicopter Trust gratefully acknowledges the following companies whose generous support contributes to the efficient operation of a viable FREE Rescue Helicopter Service in our region.
After 12 years on Bondi Beach, reality TV star Harrison Reid has come home to Christchurch. But while he`s left the front line of emergency response, he`s still doing his bit by taking part in this month`s Back to Base challenge.
He says if someone`s sick or really in trouble, there`s nothing better than hearing the sound of the rescue helicopter.
Head to the Stories section of the Back to Base website and hear from Harrison about coming home to Christchurch and why he`s getting Back to Base.
See Back to Base link in bio.
Inspired? Support Harrison`s challenge or sign up for your own!
@harcourtsgold @harrisonreid.harcourts @harrisonsreid @bondirescuetv
We are in awe of your generosity!
Thank you to everyone who has signed up and to everyone who has donated so far. This is a huge milestone, but there is still a long way to go.
If you know a person or company taking part, please consider donating to their challenge. Or you can sign up and fundraise yourself.
One of the things we love most about the Back to Base Challenge is seeing the creative ways people encourage support for their fundraising efforts.
When Bella O`Brien from @Enphase Energy got in touch, she had a unique request. One of her colleagues had promised to donate if she could persuade us to do something for her - that, along with some other "official bribes", has helped to boost the team`s total.
"𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗿, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘀𝗸𝗶, 𝗵𝗶𝗸𝗲, 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗹, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗴𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿𝘀, 𝘄𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝘁."
You can support their effort through a donation on the Back to Base website. You can also read the whole blog there. The link is in our bio.
Many of us plan to write a will, but the fact is only 50% of adult New Zealanders have one.
Not having a will has far more consequences than people think, with perhaps the greatest one being the loss of choice.
In this final article in our series on wills, our Fundraising Director Kathryn talks about what happens when someone dies without a will. As she explains, a will doesn`t have to be complicated, but not having one can be.
To read Kathryn`s article see link in bio.
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