Midlands Air Ambulance Charity is celebrating 35 years of providing vital pre-hospital emergency care across the Midlands in the UK, having marked the milestone anniversary on 21 May.

Since its first mission in 1991, the charity has grown into one of the UK's busiest and most advanced air ambulance services, responding to more than 80,000 missions and delivering lifesaving treatment to patients when every second counts.

Over the past five years alone, the organisation has continued to evolve its clinical capabilities, including the introduction of a new H145 helicopter and 24-hour operations, ensuring patients receive advanced life-saving treatment at the scene of an incident or accident.

To commemorate the anniversary, Midlands Air Ambulance Charity is inviting supporters, communities and businesses across the region to come together and celebrate 35 years of lifesaving service, while helping to secure the future of the charity for generations to come.

As part of the celebrations, the charity is encouraging people to show their support in ways that are meaningful to them, from fundraising and taking on personal challenges to making donations or helping raise awareness of Midlands Air Ambulance Charity's vital service.

Emma Gray, chief operating officer for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, says: “As we celebrate 35 years of lifesaving service, we are incredibly proud of how far the charity has come and the tens of thousands of patients we have been able to help.

“None of this would be possible without the unwavering generosity of our supporters. Quite simply, they are the reason we can continue to respond to those in critical need, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

“While this anniversary is a time to reflect on our achievements, it is also a time to look ahead. We receive no government funding for our daily operations, so we rely entirely on donations to keep our helicopters flying and our critical care teams saving lives. We are asking our communities to get involved, show their support and help us continue this vital work for the next 35 years and beyond.”

Tom Morton, managing director of Babcock's UK aviation business, adds: “It's great to see Midlands Air Ambulance Charity marking 35 years of lifesaving work, and we are proud to have supported that journey since its very first mission, helping patients across the Midlands.

“Working alongside the charity as its aviation partner, our focus has always been on helping crews concentrate on delivering critical lifesaving care, with the confidence that the pilots, aircraft and support are there when it matters.”

Each mission undertaken by Midlands Air Ambulance Charity is delivered by a highly skilled team of advanced pre-hospital emergency medicine doctors and critical care paramedics, equipped with specialist equipment to provide rapid, lifesaving treatment at the scene.