RELATIVES of people treated by the Air Ambulance NI joined paramedics from the service to run the Belfast City Marathon on Sunday to raise vital funds for the charity.
They were among the thousands of participants who ran, jogged and walked their way around the 26.2 mile-long course across the city.
An estimated 15,000 competitors took part in this year's marathon, wheelchair race, relay and 8-mile walk across the city.
The competitors had set off from the Stormont Estate at 9am onto a course that crossed all areas of the city, passing landmarks such City Hall and Parliament Buildings, before finishing in Ormeau Park.
The men's marathon event was won by Mohammed Oumaarir from Morocco, while Shewaye Woldemeskel from Ethiopia was the first woman to cross the finish line.
Martin Lynch was the quickest finisher from Northern Ireland, coming seventh, while Mark Millar won the wheelchair event.
For many participants, it was not just about the running or walking, it was about raising funds and awareness of charities in Northern Ireland.
Around 800 participants were representing Air Ambulance NI including a relay team of two Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) staff members and two relatives of people who were helped by the charity.
HEMS paramedic Mike Patton and administrator Lukasz Karpinski accompanied Alex McKinley, sister of former patient Kyra McKinley from Omagh and John McMullan, father of the first HEMS patient Connor McMullan from Castlewellan.
They were joined by Cool FM Breakfast Show radio presenter Paulo Ross, with all five donning their red running vests to raise valuable funds for the charity.
Air Ambulance NI needs £5,500 daily to sustain the life-saving service.
Mr Patton said: “We are tasked on average twice per day. The main aim of the service is to deliver time critical interventions to patients on scene anywhere in NI.
"The team can deliver pre-hospital emergency anaesthesia, administer pre hospital blood products, and provide advanced pain relief for our patients.
"Fundraising is necessary to keep our aircraft flying, it is never lost on us that we couldn’t do our job without the generosity of the public."
