Inside Denise Rowe’s Work at the HELP Appeal
After years in the corporate world, Denise Rowe decided it was time to use her skills for something bigger than business. Now working as a Fundraising Executive for the HELP Appeal (Helicopter Emergency Landing Pads) with County Air Ambulance Trust, Denise spends her days raising awareness, explaining why and the importance of this charity, engaging with both people and organisations from all walks of life.
From a young age Denise’s passion has been campaigning; from a young school age raising money for good causes, to championing company charity causes throughout her career. Giving back has been a thread through her life, but the turning point came in the lead up to her 50th birthday. After a career in the corporate world, she realised she wanted to use her skills and experience to do more than drive business, knowing this could make a real, human difference.
She made the leap into fundraising, swapping corporate for a cause that aligned with her lifelong empathy and drive to help others. That decision continues to inspire her every day. “It’s about knowing the difference I might make,” she says.
The charity is the HELP Appeal, County Air Ambulance Trust it is the UK’s only charity funding helipads at A&E and major trauma hospitals nationwide, from the Shetlands to the Isle of Wight. Alongside this, it supports all air ambulances and organisations such as BASICS (British Association for Immediate Care), funding not just helipads but critical care cars, equipment, medic training, and essential facilities. An example of support to just one of their projects last year, was a total of £4.3 million went to Midlands Air Ambulance for a new base, you can see all that they fund and personal impact stories on their website.
Denise explained “We’re a small team of just 12 people, half being part-time,” adding “Resulting in more money going straight into saving lives, which I am really proud of.”
On a daily basis she is meeting new people and inspired to learn their motivations, travelling nationwide to raise awareness of the HELP Appeal. The variety of networking and fundraising is wide and varied; from meetings with corporate to independent businesses, networking is key, whether it is having a presence at an agricultural show, or the HONC cycling event in the Cotswolds, to organising a 10-mile charity walk across London’s Thames bridges in memory of a colleague’s son Tom Knight. This Thames Bridges event is aptly named "A ‘Knight to Remember", already having signed up more than 50 participants from numerous businesses raising both funds and awareness for the charity. Every event is another chance to explain why helipads matter, and why their absence can be devastating. “Helipads are often the forgotten piece of emergency care,” she explains. “You can have helicopters, hospitals, incredible medics, but if there is nowhere safe to land at an emergency department, it means a secondary transfer resulting in extra time taken to receive urgent medical care, this time can be life-threatening.”
Denise revealed that in this role there are the breathtaking moments, such as standing on top of a newly built helipad, like the one at Salford Major Trauma Centre, which the HELP Appeal fully funded at a cost of £2 million. “Looking out over the city, knowing this helipad will save countless lives, it’s always a big moment, it reaffirms to me exactly why we do what we do.”
Although every event feels like a success for Denise, whether it is raising funds or simply sparking a conversation. “You never know who is listening or what they might go on to do,” she says. But one of the many standout moments came early in her role, when she attended the AGM of the IMTD (Institute of Master Tutors of Driving). In a packed room full of people whose lives are centred around road usage and whilst presenting giving them the knowledge that approximately 18% of air ambulance call-outs are to road traffic collisions, it was a powerful opportunity to connect. Her short presentation opened unexpected doors, including follow-up engagement with driving school associations, podcast, radio interviews and partnerships with haulage companies, some of which are now in the process of proudly displaying the HELP Appeal logo on their vehicles. “This clearly demonstrated just how much support there is out there once people understand what we do,” she reflects.
When asked what drives her motivation, Denise’s answer was simple. “That’s easy, this charity is literally saving lives every single day.” With 55 helipads having been completed and another 40 helipad projects currently in the pipeline alongside existing sites needing upgrades, Denise understands the work is far from finished. Adding that now having met numerous medics who use the facilities and equipment funded by the HELP Appeal this reinforces her drive. “They’re (the medics) are incredible at what they do, and recognise the importance and need for this support.
It makes every effort worthwhile,” she continues. “Although so much has been achieved, there is always more to do and I can see the difference it makes; that’s what drives me. I don’t think you should work in the charity sector unless you are passionate about the cause giving 110 per cent commitment”
Denise wants to ensure that every hospital, from city centres to the Highlands, has a fit-for-purpose helipad ready to help save lives. In addition to continued support for air ambulances and lifesaving organisations nationwide through the funding of bases, hangars, essential equipment, medic training all of which they rely on. “They’re the real heroes,” she highlights, “even though they would never call themselves that. They’re the ones out there saving lives every day.”
For Denise, the next five years hold exciting possibilities; she hopes more people and businesses will reach out, get involved, and help the charity raise awareness and funds through their own method of support with assistance from myself.
“Of course, I would rather nobody ever needed to use a hospital helipad,” she admits, “but I am thankful they are there when they are needed. I am proud to be part of a charity who are funding facilities and equipment that will help save lives, that’s what makes this journey so worthwhile.”
Find out more about the HELP appeal here.
