Sally Gunnell becomes Air Ambulance ambassador

Olympic champion Sally Gunnell has been appointed as an ambassador for the Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS) [1]. The former track and field athlete, who won gold in the 400 metres at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, said she was "absolutely delighted" to support the organisation's lifesaving work [1]. Gunnell, who lives in Sussex, has previously backed fundraising events for the charity and will now help champion its vital services across the region [1, 3].

Key takeaways

• Sally Gunnell OBE is now an official ambassador for the Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex [1].
• The charity warns that rising aviation fuel costs are impacting its finances [1].
• KSS requires approximately £57,000 daily to operate its helicopters and rapid response vehicles [4].
• Gunnell previously supported the charity's Run 31 challenge and will promote upcoming events like the Heli Hike [3, 4].

A celebrated athlete joins the team

Sally Gunnell OBE is best known for her achievements in the 400m hurdles, becoming the first woman in history to hold Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth titles simultaneously [3]. She set a world record of 52.74 seconds when winning the World Championships in 1993 [3]. David Welch, chief executive of KSS, said the charity is "especially proud" to welcome her, noting that her passion for health and wellbeing will help the organisation reach more people and raise vital funds [1, 3].

Gunnell has already shown her support for KSS by taking part in the charity's Run 31 challenge, where participants walk or run 31 miles in January [3, 4]. After visiting the charity's airbase and meeting the crew, she described the experience as seeing firsthand the "amazing work" they do and encouraged others to get involved [4].

Financial pressures and critical care

The charity provides pre-hospital emergency care across Kent, Surrey and Sussex, bringing advanced procedures such as open-heart surgery and blood transfusions directly to patients [4]. However, KSS has warned about the financial impact of rising aviation fuel costs since the beginning of the current conflict in the Middle East [1]. The organisation relies on the generosity of supporters to raise the millions needed each year to keep its service operational [3].

Why it matters

The appointment comes as KSS invites the community to its Heli Hike and Family Fun Day on Saturday 13 June at Wiston Park, Steyning [3]. The event offers walking routes and the chance to meet the crew, aiming to generate the necessary funds to continue saving lives across the region [3]. With daily operating costs high, the charity emphasises that public support is essential to maintain its 24/7 emergency response [3, 4].