“I’ve made friendships for life.” Nigel’s volunteering story

In 2025, he will mark a remarkable 19 years as an EAAA volunteer, and we are humbled that Nigel has chosen to spend almost two decades contributing to the life-saving work of EAAA.

“It’s a worthwhile charity,” Nigel explains. “I first became involved when I was asked to cook at a BBQ at a friend’s house. She was raising funds for EAAA, and I was encouraged to join as a volunteer by a member of staff who was attending. I’ve never looked back!”

Nigel is continuously motivated by meeting members of the public, many of them sharing their own experiences of EAAA. His friendly and bubbly personality shines through and there have been several encounters with members of the public which will stay with him forever.

“One day, I was helping at the EAAA stand at a local event when a young boy came over to me holding a £5 note, which he wanted to spend with EAAA. He told me that his dad had been in the helicopter but had sadly died.”

The young boy then spent the following twenty minutes telling Nigel about his dad. EAAA crews attends the most seriously injured and unwell people in our region to provide urgent critical care at the scene of an incident to give them the best possible chance of survival. For those who sadly do not make it, many families found comfort in knowing that everything possible that could be done, was done to try to save their loved one. The boy sharing his memories of his dad was a truly moving moment which Nigel will remember for a long time.

“Another time, a little girl told me that she couldn’t remember her adventure in the EAAA helicopter, but she remembers how nice the jelly and ice cream was at the hospital!” Nigel adds.

Talking to people and listening to them share their memories and experiences with the air ambulance has increased Nigel’s confidence. He has found great friendships with other EAAA volunteers, many of whom he sees regularly at events and at the charity’s Volunteer Days, where they all get together to share experiences and learning. Nigel says he received “maximum support” from EAAA.

“It’s always nice to catch up with familiar faces. Hopefully I’ve made friendships for life. There’s a lot of camaraderie and fun within the whole volunteering team! At the same time, we’re giving something back.”

Nigel continues, “I’m lucky that my friends in my village all know of my involvement with EAAA and support me where they can. For over a year, my window cleaner even organised a monthly pub quiz in aid of the charity and a lot of people supported this.

Ever humble, Nigel says, “I’m not sure about any life-saving difference I’ve made, but hopefully by volunteering I’ve had a knock-on effect, which may have helped others.”

Far from a knock-on effect, Nigel, alongside his fellow EAAA volunteers, donated over £195,000 worth of time in 2023-24 – the equivalent of 52 life-saving tasks.

Nigel says he’s already looking forward to several things in 2025, including volunteering at EAAA’s flagship Only The Brave event, meeting the public, giving something positive to others, and “enjoying the banter with the team!”

Nigel, we’re grateful to have you by our side in your nineteenth year of volunteering and are thankful for everything you bring to EAAA!