Thursday 14 January 2010

North Sea Flight 85N Memorial Trust Fund Makes Donations

£330,000 of donations are being made next week from the memorial trust fund which was set up following the tragic oil and gas industry helicopter incident off the north east coast of Scotland last year.

The money is being distributed to 11 charities chosen by the 16 families whose loved ones died in the incident as North Sea Flight 85N was returning to Aberdeen on April 1, 2009. 

Money is also being set aside to cover plans to create a permanent place for the book of condolence and to provide a further symbol of remembrance to be located in a public garden in Aberdeen.  Discussions are taking place with the relevant authorities with a view to these being established as soon as practically possible during 2010.

The charities chosen by the families are the RNLI, CLAN (the Aberdeen-based cancer charity), Create (the Aberdeen-based learning disabilities charity), Cancer Research, Alzheimer Scotland, Help for Heroes, Jump for Heroes, Alder Hey Childrens Hospital, St Richards Hospice in Worcester, West Midlands Air Ambulance Service and the Oil Chaplaincy Trust.

"As a result of the generosity of the general public along with companies and people throughout the industry, a number of outstanding charities will benefit from significant donations made in memory of the men who so tragically lost their lives in this awful incident," said Malcolm Webb of Oil & Gas UK and chairman of the Memorial Trust Fund committee. "This is a significant achievement."

"The fund is still receiving occasional donations and we will be looking to make a final payment to the same charities when we close the fund, which we anticipate will be towards the middle of this year."

Members of the public who still wish to make a donation can find details of the payment options at  http://www.oilandgasuk.co.uk/knowledgecentre/north_sea_flight_fund.cfm.

Ends

For further information, please contact:

Britta Hallbauer                                              

Tel:  01224 577331                                        

Email:bhallbauer@oildandgasuk.co.uk        

Mob: 07891 769113