Relatives and friends of a Londonderry teenager, who died in a quad bike crash earlier this year, have raised over £50,000 in his memory.
Isaac Roxborough (14) was riding the quad bike which was involved in a single-vehicle collision on the Ballygudden outside Eglinton village in June.
Isaac was airlifted by Air Ambulance NI to the Royal Victoria Hospital following the crash, but later died in hospital.
Over the last few months family and friends of the teenager have come together to raise funds for Air Ambulance NI.
Isaac’s former band, the Moneydig Young Conquerors Flute Band, raised £10,000 following a 24-mile sponsored walk from Ballyronan to Garvagh in October.
Isaac, from Burnfoot in Dungiven, had been a member of the band since he was a young boy, up until his untimely death.
Garie Grissam, one of the walk organisers, said: “We wanted to do something to show our support to the Roxborough family, and to remember Isaac, not only as a member of the band, but as a friend and member of the Moneydig family.
“Safe to say the Moneydig Young Conquerors, truly conquered the 24-mile walk and done Isaac proud- thank you to everyone who came along and supported the event.”
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Burnfoot’s Nearby Store where Isaac’s mother, Katrina, was working when she received the call about her son’s accident, raised £6,850.25 through a raffle.
The raffle featured generous prizes including heating oil and coal donated by local businesses.
The local community have hosted a number of other fundraising activities, including a huge Tractor Run and a charity table quiz, raising a total of £50,650.
Katrina Hughes, area fundraising manager for Air Ambulance NI said “All of us here are simply in awe of the Roxborough family and wider communities and how they have rallied together to support the charity in Isaac’s memory.
“What everyone has achieved over the last number of months is a true testament to the local community, and such a fitting tribute to Isaac in such tragic circumstances.
“We are incredibly grateful to everyone involved in each of these events, thank you all for supporting Air Ambulance NI.”
Air Ambulance NI, in partnership with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, provides the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) for Northern Ireland.
This service delivers urgent medical assistance to patients who are seriously ill or injured, offering emergency pre-hospital care directly at the scene with the aim of saving lives, as well as preventing loss of brain function and limb amputations.
Air Ambulance operates seven days a week for 12 hours each day, 365 days a year.
The aircraft can reach any location in Northern Ireland in a maximum of approximately twenty-five minutes, becoming airborne within minutes of receiving a tasking.