Latest news with #ChopperStreetAppealDay
Otago Daily Times
15-05-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Chch teenager gives back after chopper rescue
After being saved by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, teenager Riley Abbott raised $3500 for the service. Crews will be shaking buckets around the country today for the annual Chopper Street Appeal Day. Photo: Supplied A Christchurch high school student has defied the odds after a devastating crash - and now he's giving back to the air rescue crew who saved him. Sports-loving teenager Riley Abbott's life changed in an instant in July 2023. The St Bede's College boarder and rugby enthusiast from Hawarden misjudged a jump while riding his dirt bike, leaving him with a shattered femur and dislocated hip. In cold conditions and fading light, Westpac Rescue Helicopter paramedics stabilised Riley on-site and flew him to Christchurch Hospital using night vision technology that made the urgent flight possible. Riley underwent surgery and faced months of rehab, leaving his future in sport uncertain. A year later, Riley, now 17, learned he would need a full hip replacement due to severe joint damage. With resilience and determination, Riley joined his parents in the Coast to Coast. He cycled all 140km of the bike stages, raising $3500 for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter service. Today members of the public will have the opportunity to support Westpac rescue chopper teams too. The organisation will be shaking buckets around the country to raise money for its annual Chopper Street Appeal Day. Canterbury's Westpac Rescue helicopters flew 765 missions across the region last year, up 15% on 2023. Of the call-outs, 42% were to attend accidents such as Riley's, 23% for medical conditions and 8% search and rescue missions. Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust chief executive Christine Prince said the public's generosity is essential to keeping its choppers and specialised crews operating. Prince said the trust has set a target of $1.4 million, with $600,000 still needed before the end of this year to help support the purchase of three H145 rescue helicopters from Switzerland. 'We are raising the bar to meet the growing needs of our communities. 'Our mission is to increase the response capability of the rescue helicopters by 20%, deliver new technologies, medical equipment, and training so we can help save more lives.' • To make a donation or find out more, visit
Otago Daily Times
15-05-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Teen gives back to chopper after rescue
After being saved by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, teenager Riley Abbott raised $3500 for the service. Crews will be shaking buckets around the country today for the annual Chopper Street Appeal Day. Photo: Supplied A Christchurch high school student has defied the odds after a devastating crash - and now he's giving back to the air rescue crew who saved him. Sports-loving teenager Riley Abbott's life changed in an instant in July 2023. The St Bede's College boarder and rugby enthusiast from Hawarden misjudged a jump while riding his dirt bike, leaving him with a shattered femur and dislocated hip. In cold conditions and fading light, Westpac Rescue Helicopter paramedics stabilised Riley on-site and flew him to Christchurch Hospital using night vision technology that made the urgent flight possible. Riley underwent surgery and faced months of rehab, leaving his future in sport uncertain. A year later, Riley, now 17, learned he would need a full hip replacement due to severe joint damage. With resilience and determination, Riley joined his parents in the Coast to Coast. He cycled all 140km of the bike stages, raising $3500 for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter service. Today members of the public will have the opportunity to support Westpac rescue chopper teams too. The organisation will be shaking buckets around the country to raise money for its annual Chopper Street Appeal Day. Canterbury's Westpac Rescue helicopters flew 765 missions across the region last year, up 15% on 2023. Of the call-outs, 42% were to attend accidents such as Riley's, 23% for medical conditions and 8% search and rescue missions. Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust chief executive Christine Prince said the public's generosity is essential to keeping its choppers and specialised crews operating. Prince said the trust has set a target of $1.4 million, with $600,000 still needed before the end of this year to help support the purchase of three H145 rescue helicopters from Switzerland. 'We are raising the bar to meet the growing needs of our communities. 'Our mission is to increase the response capability of the rescue helicopters by 20%, deliver new technologies, medical equipment, and training so we can help save more lives.' • To make a donation or find out more, visit
Otago Daily Times
15-05-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Chch teenager gives back to chopper after rescue
After being saved by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, teenager Riley Abbott raised $3500 for the service. Crews will be shaking buckets around the country today for the annual Chopper Street Appeal Day. Photo: Supplied A Christchurch high school student has defied the odds after a devastating crash - and now he's giving back to the air rescue crew who saved him. Sports-loving teenager Riley Abbott's life changed in an instant in July 2023. The St Bede's College boarder and rugby enthusiast from Hawarden misjudged a jump while riding his dirt bike, leaving him with a shattered femur and dislocated hip. In cold conditions and fading light, Westpac Rescue Helicopter paramedics stabilised Riley on-site and flew him to Christchurch Hospital using night vision technology that made the urgent flight possible. Riley underwent surgery and faced months of rehab, leaving his future in sport uncertain. A year later, Riley, now 17, learned he would need a full hip replacement due to severe joint damage. With resilience and determination, Riley joined his parents in the Coast to Coast. He cycled all 140km of the bike stages, raising $3500 for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter service. Today members of the public will have the opportunity to support Westpac rescue chopper teams too. The organisation will be shaking buckets around the country to raise money for its annual Chopper Street Appeal Day. Canterbury's Westpac Rescue helicopters flew 765 missions across the region last year, up 15% on 2023. Of the call-outs, 42% were to attend accidents such as Riley's, 23% for medical conditions and 8% search and rescue missions. Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust chief executive Christine Prince said the public's generosity is essential to keeping its choppers and specialised crews operating. Prince said the trust has set a target of $1.4 million, with $600,000 still needed before the end of this year to help support the purchase of three H145 rescue helicopters from Switzerland. 'We are raising the bar to meet the growing needs of our communities. 'Our mission is to increase the response capability of the rescue helicopters by 20%, deliver new technologies, medical equipment, and training so we can help save more lives.' • To make a donation or find out more, visit
NZ Herald
07-05-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Northland Rescue Chopper Appeal under way after busy 2024
Last year, the Westpac Chopper Appeal raised a record $1.44 million for the rescue helicopter trusts around the country, including around $40,000 in Northland. All money raised in a region goes to that region's rescue helicopter trust. Northland Emergency Services Trust chairman Paul Ahlers said the public's generosity is essential to keeping its choppers and specialised crews operating. 'We take great pride in providing New Zealanders with first class medical care in some of their greatest times of need, and we rely on the generosity of New Zealanders to keep our choppers in the air,' Ahlers said. 'The money raised goes towards things like new equipment, maintenance and staff training, which cost more every year, making public support that much more valuable.' Westpac funds the marketing and administration costs of the Chopper Appeal – in addition to its sponsorship arrangements – and distributes all funds raised back to donors' local rescue helicopter trust. Westpac NZ chief executive Catherine McGrath said people who are saved by a chopper often tell their rescuers of their relief when they hear the helicopter. 'There's no greater sound when you need it, and our TV ad 'takeover' will bring that sound into New Zealanders' living rooms and hopefully encourage them to donate and support their local rescue helicopter service,' McGrath said. 'Rescue chopper crews do a wonderful job all day, every day, all around the country to help keep communities safe. It's a longstanding partnership that means a lot to us, and every year our teams dig deep to raise funds.' Westpac teams and others will be shaking a bucket on street corners around the country on the annual Chopper Street Appeal Day on Thursday, May 8.
