The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance was presented with a cheque for £45,000 by local Royal Arch Freemasons.
It was one of the largest donations the life-saving service has received and will help fund the helicopter, its other vehicles and staff training.
The charity spends around £8m a year and the helicopter can be deployed upwards of 800 times in a 12 month period.
Royal Arch Freemasons raise large amounts for charity and the money was donated from members across Hampshire, Christchurch, Bournemouth and the Isle of Wight.
Receiving the donation, Jill McDonagh thanked the members saying: “Your support will make a world of difference. Thank you for being at our side.”
Steve Allum, who heads the Province’s Royal Arch Freemasons, said: “We are proud to support Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance and their critical work in providing emergency medical services to our local community.”
“Their highly trained professionals and state-of-the-art equipment ensure that patients receive the best possible medical care, and we are honoured to contribute to their cause.”The air ambulance can reach any location in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight within 15 minutes, ensuring patients receive the medical care they need as quickly as possible.Royal Arch Freemasons choose a charity on an annual basis, which will have a local beneficial impact.
Hospices within the area, Macmillan Cancer Care and, most recently, Guide Dogs were all previous charities supported in this way.
All the monies received for the donation were raised by members who are now donating for next year’s charitable cause, Southampton Centre for Cancer Immunology.