The highly recognised ‘Supercar Sunday’ weekend in aid of Air Ambulance NI charity is celebrating the largest total raised ever, £95,000 to save lives across Northern Ireland.
The funds raised fully fund the life-saving service for two weeks and during that time it is likely that the medical team will be called out to 14 critically ill or injured patients.
This event, not only brings car enthusiasts together but also highlights the power of community spirit and the importance of charitable giving. It's wonderful to see such a substantial contribution being made to a cause that directly helps save lives.
The event, now in its fifth year, saw hundreds of supercars and hyper cars on display in Portstewart on Saturday 27 July and in Bishopscourt Racing Circuit, Downpatrick on Sunday 28 July.
Thousands of the public attended this exclusive opportunity to see some of the most exciting brands on the market together in one place. Vehicles featured included Lamborghinis, McLarens, Aston Martins, Ferraris and many other exotic car brands as well as 300 motorbikes for the first time.
Car owners also got to enjoy a glittering gala ball on Saturday 27 July with a ‘Casino Royale’ theme held at the world-renowned Titanic Building, Belfast.
Ronan Cunningham and his family deserve huge recognition for channelling their passion and energy into organising this event, especially with such a remarkable outcome. The fact that it was inspired by a previous patient of the Air Ambulance who made a remarkable recovery adds a deeply personal and inspiring element to the event.
This kind of motivation often brings out the best in communities, as people can directly see the impact of their support. The success of the event is a testament to the dedication of the Cunningham family and all those who participated and donated.
Ronan said:
“I would like to thank the car community of Ireland for coming together to make such a special weekend and also a huge thanks to the public who came in their thousands not only to see the event but even more importantly donate to the charity with 100 Percent of ticket sales going directly to the charity.
“I would also like to say a special thanks to Bishopscourt Racing circuit and the NW pits for donating the two venues to hold the event and finally to all the very special volunteers who came and donated their valuable time.”
Kerry Anderson, Head of Fundraising at the charity Air Ambulance NI said:
“We are truly blown away by the incredible support for the fifth year from Supercar Sunday. On behalf of our trustees, charity staff team and volunteers, we want to express a heartfelt thank you to the Cunningham family, sponsors, volunteers, car owners and everyone who went along to the Supercar Sunday Weekend 2024. The wonderful weekend of events has resulted in a phenomenal donation to our charity that will fund the Air Ambulance for two full weeks and potentially save many lives.
“There was a tremendous amount of hard work, effort and time poured into making this event happen and we are truly grateful to everyone who played a part in this. It's not just the medical team who save lives, but the people like you who support our service ensuring it is there for everyone who needs it.”
Air Ambulance NI needs to raise almost £7,000 every day to sustain this lifeline. When a life hangs in the balance as a result of a serious road traffic collision, farm or workplace accident or simple fall downstairs, the doctor and paramedic on board the helicopter can reach anywhere in Northern Ireland in a matter of minutes. They then provide potentially life-saving care and interventions at the scene.
The Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) is provided by a unique partnership between the charity and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. Operational for 7 years now, air ambulance has been tasked on over 4,300 occasions.
For more information, please see www.airambulanceni.org