Northland Rescue Helicopter Service scrambling to find sponsors to stay in the air

July 7, 2020

The Northland Rescue Helicopter has carried out 500 rescue missions this year but has taken a massive funding hit

One of the busiest rescue helicopters services in the country has taken a massive funding hit and is scrambling to find sponsors to stay in the air.

The Northland Rescue Helicopter has carried out more than 500 rescue missions this year - helping an average of three people every day, but now it's in need of help.

“Covid-19 has put a spanner in the works for quite a few fundraisers we were going to have out here in the community,” Northland Rescue Helicopter general manager Vanessa Furze told 1 NEWS.

“We have lost a very big corporate sponsor and another sponsor that was coming on board has also pulled out.”

The Northland Rescue Helicopter costs $5000 dollars an hour to run but it's only 75 per cent Government-funded.

The remaining money comes from the community and this year its facing a $2 million shortfall.

“We couldn't offer a 24-hour service, we’d have to cut back,” Ms Furze said.

The rescue service is now hoping others will answer their SOS so it can keep saving lives.

SHARE ME

More Stories