Red Funnel has helped Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance reach liftoff after raising £50,578 for their outgoing 2025 Charity of the Year partner.
This incredible final total is testament to the generosity, determination and community spirit of customers and colleagues, and every penny will help make a real difference to lives across the region.
Ceremonial cheque handover
Marking the moment of celebration, team members from both organisations joined a ceremonial cheque handover at the new air base, which is currently under construction. The charity hopes to raise £3.6million towards the new airbase so it can better support the community
During the celebrations, Keith Wilson, Director of Income and Engagement, said,
“We’re all hugely grateful to the entire team at Red Funnel for a phenomenal year of fundraising and friendship.
“Working with them as their charity partner has been a delight from start to finish, raising valuable funds to support our service and creating incredible opportunities to engage with Red Funnel staff and passengers.”
Support from ferry customers and staff
Red Funnel customers have helped keep the lifesaving charity flying high, donating while booking trips and popping spare change into collection boxes across terminals and onboard.
Colleagues also threw themselves into fundraising, with six team members tackling The National Three Peaks Challenge, climbing 3,000 metres in just 24 hours and battling all four seasons of British weather, to raise over £3,000.
The team didn’t stop there. Colleagues, including CEO Fran Collins, lit up the ‘Dash in the Dark’ 5k fun run in October at the Royal Isle of Wight County Showground. The event raised £25,000; enough to fuel seven future lifesaving missions and keep the Air Ambulance soaring.
Collins: The work they do is extraordinary
Speaking on the cheque handover, Fran Collins CEO of Red Funnel added,
“Our charity cheque handovers are always bittersweet, because our team and our customers have taken such pride in supporting this lifesaving work.
“Reflecting on what’s been achieved really shows the impact of everyone’s hard work and inspires us to do even more for our future charity partners.
“We’ve loved supporting Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance and its incredible team. The work they do is extraordinary and we’re proud to have played a part in helping them move to their new air base.”
2026 charity of the year
Newport-based charity Friends of the Animals has taken up the mantle as Red Funnel’s 2026 Charity of the Year partner as Red Funnel embarks on a mission to help all creatures great and small across the Isle of Wight.
News shared by Sophie on behalf of Red Funnel. Ed
