SCAA Christmas Appeal 2023

In Iain's Memory

One day in August 2021, Ashlyne was with her two-year-old son, Iain, near Lybster when their car was in a terrible accident that left them both fighting for their lives.

Little Iain was taken to Caithness General, and then on to the Children’s Hospital in Glasgow, where medics tried tirelessly to save him. Meanwhile, SCAA airlifted Ashlyne to the Major Trauma Centre in Aberdeen in just 20 minutes – a speed that consultants believed saved her life. 

Following major surgery, Ashlyne was taken by ambulance to Glasgow to see her son and join the rest of the family in heart-breaking goodbyes before his life-support was switched off and he was allowed to slip away, just weeks before his third birthday.

It’s this sort of story, that while hard to read, reminds us what a lifeline SCAA really is. And how absolutely vital your support is to us. 

We know not everyone is in a position to give right now, but if you are, please donate here to keep our crews online this Christmas, ensuring we are there for families like Ashlyne's when they need us most.

Ashlyne's sister Ellie explained that the family used their loss as a focus for a determined fundraising effort to ensure SCAA would be there to help other families in times of need.

“When the family gathered at the hospital to say our goodbyes to Iain we said we couldn’t let his death be meaningless. We had to do something in his name – we had to help other children in his memory. We had to help fund the amazing charity that did so much for us that awful day."

“It’s just the start,” vowed Ellie. “Our family’s debt to SCAA is immeasurable and we’ll do all we can to support the service as it reaches out to save the lives of other adults and other children. I could have lost a sister as well as a nephew that day had it not been for SCAA. They saved her life and our family will be forever grateful.”

“Our world was blown apart by that road accident but SCAA helped us hold it together – something no one else could – and help us fight to keep Iain’s memory alive through the people SCAA will go on to save in the future.”

It's your support that ensures that our crews can reach you and your loved ones, when the worst happens. Please will you help us save lives this winter in little Iain's memory? Your generous donation could enable a family to celebrate Christmas together.

If you are able to, please, donate today.