£13,400 raised by Coast Road Dart Team as Maggie Black’s memory inspires vital Air Ambulance NI support

Five-year-old Maggie Black

Monday 05 October 2026

Five-year-old Maggie Black’s name will be carried on Air Ambulance NI’s new aircraft after a Glenarm darts team raised another £3,740 in her memory.

The Coast Road Dart Team’s third annual fundraiser has taken its total support for the charity to £13,400 — an amount Air Ambulance NI says is enough to help provide pre-hospital care at the scene for at least three patients attended by the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS).

Maggie’s name to fly on new aircraft

Of the £3,740 raised this year, £200 has been dedicated to placing Maggie’s name on the underside of Air Ambulance NI’s new aircraft, which is due to enter service later this year.

Maggie, from Glenarm, sadly died from undiagnosed Addison’s disease in 2021 at just five years old. In the four and a half years since her death, fundraising in her memory has generated £39,000 for Air Ambulance NI.

Her mum, Sheenagh Black, said:

“It means so much to our family to see Maggie remembered with such warmth while raising vital funds for this wonderful charity. We are incredibly grateful to the darts community for organising another successful event and continuing to honour our wee Maggie in such a special way.”

Community support reaches £39,000

The cheque presentation: (L-R) James Wilson, Coast Road Dart Club, Kerry Anderson, Air Ambulance NI, and Maggie’s parents Sheenagh and Brian Black.

Maggie’s father, Brian, is a member of the Coast Road Dart Team. He and Sheenagh attended a recent cheque presentation alongside fellow club member James Wilson and Kerry Anderson of Air Ambulance NI Charity.

The latest donation continues a remarkable community fundraising effort in Maggie’s memory which has included donations in lieu of funeral flowers, a community walk and coffee weekend, as well as support from North Antrim GAA and Co. Antrim Fleadh.

The Coast Road Dart Team also thanked its board sponsors, those who donated or purchased raffle prizes and the other darts teams which supported this year’s event.

Kerry Anderson said:

“We are deeply grateful to the Coast Road Dart Team for honouring Maggie’s memory in such a meaningful way. Their continued support celebrates her life and helps our medical team reach the next patient whose life may depend on the air ambulance.

“The generosity of community groups and sports clubs like this enables us to be there for people across Northern Ireland when they need us most.”

Supporting the next air ambulance mission

HEMS is delivered through a partnership between the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and Air Ambulance NI Charity, with the charity aiming to raise £3 million each year to keep the helicopter operational and sustain the potentially life-saving service.

Other supporters can also have their own name, a family name or the name of someone special placed on the new aircraft through Air Ambulance NI’s Lift Off Together campaign.

More information is available at airambulanceni.org/lift-off-together.

For Maggie’s family and the Glenarm community, the latest fundraiser means her memory will not only continue to help patients facing critical emergencies across Northern Ireland — her name will soon take to the skies with the service they have supported in her honour.