Launched to celebrate KSS’s 30th anniversary and to help raise funds, the 30 for 30 Challenge encourages participants living in Kent, Surrey and Sussex to create their own 30-themed fundraiser during the 30 days of September. The fundraiser is focused on health and wellbeing, encouraging supporters to get up and get active, or take up a challenge that focuses on promoting wellbeing, like learning a new skill.

In a statement, the air ambulance said: “From giving up a favourite treat for 30 days to running 30 miles, taking on a 30-minute fitness challenge or reading 30 new books, the 30 for 30 Challenge is open to everyone.”

Through sponsorship from family, colleagues and friends, KSS hopes that the 30 for 30 Challenge will help the charity raise funds. In April, KSS launched its Coronavirus Emergency Appeal to cover the additional costs of operating its world-class pre-hospital emergency response service safely during the pandemic, and to cover a significant shortfall in its income resulting from the cancellation of all major fundraising events. 

Although the Appeal has raised over £1 million to date, enabling KSS to be fully operational at all times, the charity is still facing a shortfall of £1.9 million that it must raise to ensure it can continue to save lives 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

KSS CEO David Welch commented: “This has been a momentous year for KSS. In February, we were honoured to receive a visit from HRH The Princess Royal, to launch our 30th year, and in March we became the first UK Air Ambulance service to be rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission across all five of its inspection criteria.”

“And then, coronavirus – an unprecedented challenge that has impacted us all. With a robust pandemic plan in place, we have been able to continue to support the NHS and serve our communities without interruption throughout this period – but the additional costs and loss of fundraising income are significant, and for the first time in our 30-year history we have had to launch an emergency fundraising appeal.”

Lynne Harris, Executive Director of Income Generation, added: “We had a number of special events planned for this summer to celebrate our 30th anniversary and to thank the community for the wonderful support we receive. Although our plans have had to change, we hope that the 30 for 30 Challenge is a way for us to still celebrate this milestone and to help us raise critical funds, whilst being active and focusing on our wellbeing too.”

“Thanks to extraordinary public support, over the last 30 years we have treated more than 30,000 patients with our world-class, life-saving emergency care. Now, we are appealing for your help to make sure we can continue to be there for the next 30,000 patients who need us.”