The Air Ambulance service has received more than £24,000 in donations in the past few months, from a number of people who did their own fundraising.

Among them was Emma Blackburn, who raised £13,000 by walking the island’s entire coastline in three days. She undertook the challenge in memory of her brother William, who had been a pilot with the service.

He died in a plane crash in Dubai in 2019.

Jack Townsend, along with his mother Kathryn Shipsides, donated £6,084.

Jack, who himself been transported by the air ambulance to receive treatment for a brain aneurysm, raised they money by carrying out various fitness challenges.

Over three thousand was given by Mark and Lisa Bradshaw, which they raised with the help of Tynwald Mills by organising a murder mystery night and fashion show where Air Ambulance staff were the ones modelling the clothes.

In addition, Snaefell Gardening Service raised and donated £864, and the Rotary Club of Rushen and Western Mann gave £1,000.

The service said donations in the thousands were exceptional, with donations typically coming in at around £50-£100.

The Isle of Man Air Ambulance is based in a hangar at Ronaldsway, and is especially equipped to transport inpatients who are in need of specialist care in the UK.

It can accommodate two patients and two health care staff.

Its team is nurse-led and based at Noble’s Hospital.

Between April 2019 and March 2020, 420 patients were transported using the Air Ambulance in a total of 338 flights.

The difference is explained by the fact that sometimes two patients are transported at the same time, or there can be an outgoing flight with one patient and a return with two.

The majority of patients (51%) transferred by the air ambulance were those with cardiac conditions.

Other significant proportions were from orthopedic (bone) trauma patients (accounting for 10% of patients), and oncology (cancer treatment) patients at 9%.

The vast majority of patients were being transported to the Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital.