Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter will receive ongoing support from energy generator King Country Energy (KCE) with a $20,000 sponsorship in 2019.
KCE general manager Chris Fincham says the sponsorship is a way of saying thank you to the 24/7 life-saving service.
“Due to the geography of the region, and the isolation of some farms and roads, the quick response of the chopper crew makes a real difference to people who have been injured or hurt,” he says. In 2018 alone, the Waikato Helicopter flew more than 560 missions within the King Country.
“The people of Taumarunui, and the wider King Country are very grateful for the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter service. As a community and as a company we want to show our thanks and support for this vital service,” says Fincham.
KCE has been a sponsor of the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter since 2014; a service which has touched more than 10,000 patients’ lives from the Waikato and King Country regions since its inception in 1987.
Philips Search & Rescue Trust group manager, Vanessa Richmond says every dollar raised through fundraising or sponsorships is of vital importance, and sponsorship such as this from KCE is gratefully received.
“Every year, the cost of running the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter is around $3.6 million,” says Richmond. “As a charity and trust, we are required to fundraise at least 50 per cent of this annual cost which means every dollar raised counts.”
“Annual chopper costs include ongoing expenses from fuel to scheduled maintenance and upkeep of the rescue machines which in total amounts to an average cost of $8,900 per mission,” says Richmond. “We thank KCE for its foresight in helping keep the rescue chopper in the air.”
