Cllr George Jabbour, Chair of North Yorkshire Council, has completed the iconic Coast-to-Coast walk, raising vital funds and awareness for his chosen charity of the year, Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
The over 190-mile route stretches from St Bees on the Cumbrian coast to Robin Hood’s Bay in North Yorkshire, and has seen Cllr Jabbour face gale-force winds from Storm Floris as well as extreme summer heat during his trek.
Cllr Jabbour began his challenge on 2 August, walking the route in two stages. The first stage took him 10 days to complete, and this final stage a further 8 days, finishing on Tuesday afternoon where he was greeted at Robin Hood’s Bay by the charity’s two mascots, Pilot Percy and Paramedic Polly.
So far, he has raised over £4,100 for Yorkshire Air Ambulance since taking on the Coast-to-Coast challenge, one of several fundraising events planned during his tenure as Chair. His next challenge will be the Yorkshire Air Ambulance Three Peaks Challenge in early September, where he will be tackling the iconic peaks alongside other YAA supporters and members of the air ambulance crew.
Reflecting on his achievement, Cllr Jabbour said, “It has been a wonderful experience, and I have really enjoyed it; it’s given me a huge sense of achievement. Walking 190 miles through such varied conditions has been both challenging and rewarding, but knowing I was raising money for such an important cause has kept me motivated. Even though the Coast-to-Coast challenge covers a huge distance, it is only a tiny proportion of the area the YAA has to cover every day. That has really put things into perspective and made me even more determined to continue supporting their vital work.”
Yorkshire Air Ambulance serves five million people across the region, responding to over 1,300 missions last year alone, bringing hospital-level treatment directly to the scene of some of Yorkshire’s most serious incidents. The charity receives no direct government funding and relies on public fundraising and donations to sustain its lifesaving service.
Katie Roberts, Director of Relationship Fundraising at Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said, “We would like to congratulate Cllr Jabbour on completing this incredible challenge. Walking 190 miles is no small feat, and we are so grateful for his dedication in raising both vital funds and awareness for Yorkshire Air Ambulance. The support we receive through challenges like this ensures we can continue saving lives across Yorkshire.”
Cllr Jabbour’s Coast-to-Coast achievement also highlights the exciting fundraising challenges supporters can take on for Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Although entries for this year’s YAA Three Peaks Challenge have now closed, supporters are encouraged to sign up for the 2026 event or even take on their own personal challenges to raise money for the charity.
Donations towards Cllr Jabbour’s fundraising can be made through his JustGiving page.