MUG helicopter receives 17,000 euros and can fly again for a few months

The Bruges crematorium, a public-private partnership between funeral specialist DELA and the City of Bruges, leaves precious metals and other metals such as titanium or steel that remain after cremation to a specialized company. DELA and the City of Bruges donate the full proceeds to a regional charity each year. This year it is the non-profit organization MUG-heli. Her aircraft flies out from its base in AZ Sint-Jan Bruges, and can save dozens of lives every year in West Flanders, East Flanders and even Zeeland.

That 17,000 euros is good for several months of fuel. But actually, 800,000 euros is needed annually. Doctor Nicolas Müller (Institute for Emergency Medical Assistance): “Keeping our helicopter in the air costs us more than 800,000 euros every year. Gifts such as these from DELA and the City of Bruges are therefore more than welcome. With the support we can pay for part of our fuel and maintain our medical equipment.”

The West Flemish MUG helicopter carries out around 700 interventions on an annual basis. An average of 40 lives are saved each year. Yet financing it has been a thorny issue for years. The institute that operates the MUG helicopter has to appeal to the province, local authorities, sponsors and fundraisers to raise money.