Real Life Drama At Kent Air Ambulance

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Actress Rebecca Grant, who starred in the BBC medical drama Holby City, will mix with real life doctors and paramedics at a forthcoming Kent Air Ambulance Awards Dinner.

Rebecca, who played Sister Daisha Anderson in Holby, will present an award at the black tie event on Saturday May 8th at the Leas Cliff Hall in Folkestone.

 

The Anniversary Awards is one of the events planned to mark the charity’s 20 years of flying a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service in the county and recognizes the dedication and hard work of some of the hundreds of people who fund raise to keep the helicopter airborne.

 

Rebecca and her husband Ivan, from Whitstable, married in a glamorous 1950s style wedding in Kent last year. The star studded ceremony was attended by Holby cast members, including Robert Powell and his wife Babs, formerly of Top of the Pops dance troupe Pan's People. The wedding was featured in OK magazine.

 

Rebecca said: 'Although I’ve never worked in the health profession, after two years in Holby I feel almost an honorary member of it.

 

'I know how vitally important all ambulance staff are in saving lives. When I was 16 I suffered a life threatening asthma attack and was in a coma for two weeks. But for the speed of the ambulance service in getting me to hospital I could have died.

 

'I know also that air ambulances play a crucial role in getting injured and sick people from out-of-the way places to hospital in time for life-saving treatment.

'As far as I am concerned air ambulance crews are true heroes. They risk their lives constantly to go into the air in appalling conditions.'

 

Since Kent Air Ambulance was launched twenty years ago it has attended over 14,000 medical emergencies. Almost all of the £1.7 million a year it costs to keep the helicopter airborne comes from voluntary donations from the public.

 

Jill Playle, Director of Communications at Kent Air Ambulance said: ‘Over the years many hundreds of people have worked tirelessly to raise the funds needed to allow us to go to the aid of seriously injured people and we thank all of them for their support. I am also grateful to Rebecca for taking time out of her busy schedule to support us at this unique event.’

 

Tickets for the Anniversary Awards dinner, which includes a three course meal, are £40 and can be obtained by ringing the Air Ambulance base on 01622 833 833 or emailing lynnh@kaat.org.uk