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Tourism Lecturer Wins Air Ambulance NI Car Competition

Tuesday

Female and male standing against the red car

Colleen McGrath, a tourism lecturer at Northern Regional College’s Magherafelt campus, was the winner of the Air Ambulance NI car competition. A delighted Colleen said she was thrilled with the win. “I’ve known about the amazing work that the Air Ambulance NI does, so I was happy to support such a good cause but never expected to win.

“I was so surprised to hear that I’d actually won something. The only thing I’ve  won before was a meat hamper!”

Colleen said she would continue to support Air Ambulance as she had known a few people who had benefited from the service it provides.

The car competition, the latest fundraising effort of the Osborne family, raised almost £36,000 for Air Ambulance NI, bringing the total raised by the family to date to over £165,000. They embarked on their fundraising drive after Simon Osborne (28) from Ballymoney was seriously injured in a motorbike accident in January 2019. The prompt response of the Air Ambulance crew who were able to perform roadside emergency surgery saved his life.

Simon’s younger brother, Luke and uncle, David McIlmoyle, both work at Northern Regional College.

David who is an Electrical and Electronic Engineering lecturer at the College’s Magherafelt campus, said Simon was very fortunate to have survived the horrific accident.

“His injuries included the loss of the sight in his right eye, broken ribs, sternum, left arm, pelvis and left leg, punctured lungs, ruptured spleen and bowel as well as general nerve. He’s still recovering but very fortunate to survive.”

Thanking everyone who had contributed to the family’s fundraising efforts to date, David added: “It costs about £2 million a year - or £5,000 a day -   to provide the Air Ambulance service. Thanks to the fundraising efforts of others in the past, Simon was able to benefit from the Air Ambulance so we’re doing what we can to raise awareness and funds to keep this vital service going. 

Northern Regional College Students’ Union has selected the Simon Osborne Air Ambulance NI Appeal as its nominated charity this year.