228 emergencies in eight months: Magpas Air Ambulance shares its impact in Peterborough this Air Ambulance Week

Magpas Air Ambulance has been called to 228 emergencies in Peterborough since the start of the year – on average responding to someone in a life-threatening emergency in the area every day – with the county accounting for more than 18% of the charity's 1,289 missions in 2026 to date.

In response, during Air Ambulance Week (7–11 September), landmarks, communities and businesses across Cambridgeshire are turning orange in support of the 24/7 lifesaving service that receives no government funding.

Magpas Air Ambulance brings hospital-level emergency care directly to the scene of the most serious incidents, by air and by road, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Based just down the A1 in Alconbury Weald, the charity can fly to patients across Peterborough in an average of just under five minutes. Each mission costs an average of £3,000. This cost covers specialist care from doctors and critical care paramedics, specialist equipment and the running of the helicopter and rapid response vehicles. In total, the charity needs to raise more than £6 million every year to keep its service flying and relies entirely on donations from the public and support from local businesses to do so.

Air Ambulance Week is the only national week dedicated to raising awareness and funds for the lifesaving work of the UK's 21 air ambulance charities.

Daryl Brown MBE DL, CEO of Magpas Air Ambulance, said: "Every one of those 228 callouts was someone in Peterborough having the worst day of their life. The fact that we can be at their side within minutes, with the skills and equipment of an emergency department, is only possible because of the support from people and businesses based in Peterborough and across the East of England. Air Ambulance Week helps us to highlight the critical care we provide, as well as this amazing support, and we invite everyone in Peterborough to help keep this service flying."

Anyone in Peterborough who would like to support Magpas Air Ambulance and its work in the community can make a donation to keep this local lifesaving charity flying. With donations to Magpas Air Ambulance being matched up to £1,000 this air ambulance week, you can double your impact when you donate today at www.magpas.org.uk/aaw.