Yorkshire Air Ambulance is flying high after staff in the Sheffield office of international law firm CMS chose the rapid response emergency service as its charity of the year.

The office, which has 15 partners, 128 lawyers and 111 business services and support staff, advises major businesses across many sectors including healthcare, financial services, infrastructure, real estate and advanced manufacturing.

Its charity committee chose Yorkshire Air Ambulance to support during 2018 and fundraising events planned include the annual charity ball in May which is hoped will generate around £10,000.

CMS Sheffield Employment Partner Tracey Marsden also heads the office’s charity committee. She said: “We know just what a vital service the Yorkshire Air Ambulance provide, a service that anyone of us could need at any time, but it was a real eye opener that the charity receives no Government funding.

“We are encouraging everyone to get involved with fundraising and also volunteering their time to support the life-saving work of the air ambulance here in South Yorkshire.”

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) serves five million people across Yorkshire and carries out over 1,250 missions every year. The charity operates two, state-of-the-art Airbus H145 helicopters and needs to raise £12,000 every day to keep saving lives.

During 2016/17, the YAA flew 208 missions in South Yorkshire treating 172 patients at the scene and airlifting 68 people with life-threatening injuries or medical conditions to a major trauma centre.

With a purpose-designed helipad at Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital and the recent introduction of extended flying hours, the number of South Yorkshire patients benefiting from the service is expected to continue to rise.

YAA Regional Fundraising Manager Kerry Garner said: “We fly an average of three missions a week in South Yorkshire with currently around 14 per cent of all patients airlifted are flown to either the Northern General Hospital or Sheffield Children’s Hospital for specialist care.

“We know these figures will rise as we fly more missions and so the need for support from amazing organisations like CMS in South Yorkshire is even more important.

“It is why we are so grateful to all the staff in Sheffield for choosing us as their charity of the year and we very much look forward to working with them.”

CMS in Sheffield provides banking, clinical and professional risk, corporate, construction, employment, environment, health and safety, pensions, planning, disputes and real estate legal advice.

Photo: (L to R) CMS Partner Tracey Marsden, trainee solicitor Beckie Wrend with Yorkshire Air Ambulance Regional Fundraising Manager Kerry Garner.

The award-winning charity is believed to be one of the first air ambulance services in the country to use fully immersive, 360-degree virtual reality (VR) as a fundraising and awareness-raising tool.

Using special VR headsets, viewers can become a paramedic setting off on a mission, a patient being transferred from the helicopter to hospital, and see what it’s like to be sat in the aircraft cockpit as you approach the landing pad of one of the region’s Major Trauma Centres.

There will also be an immersive tour of Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s air support unit at Nostell, near Wakefield, and more sequences are planned.

Director of Marketing and Communications Abby Barmby said: “By embracing this innovative technology we can engage with existing and potential supporters in a very different way, to give them a better understanding of the life-saving work we do, and how their money is spent.”

Yorkshire Air Ambulance have worked with innovative York-based Air Television, which makes the popular UKTV series Helicopter ER, that follows the life-saving work of the rapid response emergency charity.

Matt Richards, is Series Producer at Air Television which recently won two Royal Television Society awards for their work on the compelling series.

He said: “Descending into the heart of Leeds in VR is almost as dramatic as doing it for real. Viewers can turn their heads to see tower cranes and high-rise blocks sliding past, see pedestrians staring up, or watch and listen as the Pilot talks us through the touchdown on the Leeds General Infirmary’s rooftop helipad.

“This is really exciting technology and we are delighted to be breaking new ground with Yorkshire Air Ambulance in this innovative way.

“The charity is fabulous to work with and have been very keen to explore with us what can be achieved using this evolving immersive technology. The possibilities are really exciting.”

The 360-degree footage can be watched on a smart phone or tablet, but the special VR headsets – which have been donated by a charity supporter – take the experience to another level. Viewers are totally immersed with every turn of the head giving them a different perspective.

Abby added: “We hope initially that the headsets will be taken to events and presentations to give people a powerful and novel insight into the life-saving work we do.  Although we have some initial kit to get us started, we are looking for other companies who would be willing to support this project with either donations of VR equipment or sponsorship towards it, so we had more sets available for use.  If anyone is interested, please do get in touch with us for a chat.

“We are not currently aware of any other air ambulance charity that is doing this and, looking forward, we are exploring other potential uses, such as training and education, which is very exciting.”

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) serves 5million people across Yorkshire and carries out over 1,250 missions every year. The charity operates two, state-of-the-art Airbus H145 helicopters and needs to raise £12,000 every day to keep saving lives.

Organised and hosted by Lindsay and Will Hitchen at their St George’s Court B&B, based at Old Home Farm, High Grantley, Ripon, with support from friends and several members of Farm Stay UK, more than 200 breakfasts were served up across three days and six sittings.

The 2018 farmhouse feast attracted multiple sponsors, both financially and with product donations. Keynote supporters were Ripon accountants Eura Audit, Barclays Bank’s agricultural division and Craven Cattle Marts in Skipton.

The proceeds will be split between two main beneficiaries, national farming charity, Addington Fund, and Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Over the years, Yorkshire members of Farm Stay UK, the country’s largest network of on-farm accommodation providers, have raised close on £40,000 for the two charities.

Addington’s operations manager Sue English said: “No one seems to do breakfasts to the extent that Yorkshire can do them, with over £17,000 being raised for Addington since 2014. This is an incredible amount of money, which will make a real difference to the farming families we help. Thank you again to all the people and organisations involved who continue to donate their time and energy to making this happen.”

Yorkshire Air Ambulance North Yorkshire fundraising manager Helen Callear said: “It may surprise people to know that we are an independent charity and rely on the generosity of individuals and organisations to help save lives across the region.

“Lindsey Hitchen and members of Farm Stay UK have been supporting the YAA for a number of years and have raised a magnificent amount of money. We’d like to thank everyone involved in making the Big Breakfast bonanza such a huge success and for their continued support.”

The 2018 hosts were Lindsey and Will Hitchen, of St George’s Court B&B, based at Old Home Farm, High Grantley, near Ripon, and the three-day event raised almost £7,000 for national farming charity, the Addington Fund, and Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

This also included the proceeds of a standalone two-course hot supper for another 60 guests, where entertainment was provided by local singer, guitarist; writer, journalist, TV presenter and producer Chris Berry.

It was the second Big Breakfast bonanza staged by the couple. The first in 2011 netted over £3,000 for the same two charities, with the latest event boosting the St George’s Court kitty to around £10,000.

Multiple sponsors stepped forward to support the event, both financially and with product donations. Keynote sponsors were Ripon accountants Eura Audit, Barclays Bank’s agricultural division, who again sent two of their senior personnel every day to work with the ladies, and Craven Cattle Marts in Skipton. 

Over the years, other regional members of Farm Stay UK, the country’s largest network of farm-based accommodation providers, have laid on charity Big Breakfasts, which have netted many thousands of pounds, primarily for Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the Addington Fund, which offers a vital lifeline and safety net to farmers in desperate need of housing or emergency funds.

“Once again, both sponsors and Big Breakfasters gave us fantastic support. We cannot thank them enough,” said Mrs Hitchen.        

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The life-saving charity maintains and operates two helicopters with full medical crews covering the whole of Yorkshire. It replaces Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice which raised a staggering £128,000 during its two-year partnership with the Centre.​

To mark the start of the new fund-raising relationship, one of YAA’s Air Ambulances will be flying into Meadowhall on Wednesday, January 24th. The helicopter* is due to land on the Upper Red car park at 10 am and will be greeted by Meadowhall staff and retailers, as well as local schoolchildren from the nearby Tinsley Meadows Primary School. YAA Chairman Peter Sunderland will also be attending.

Meadowhall Centre Director Darren Pearce said: “It is always a very difficult decision choosing a new Charity of the Year, but the Yorkshire Air Ambulance does a fantastic job of saving lives across the region and need to raise £12,000 every single day to maintain and keep their helicopters in the air.”

Last year 1543 people were assisted across the county – an area covering 11,900km and a population of over 5.2million. Since the first YAA helicopter was launched in October 2000, 7,467 patients have been rescued thanks to their highly skilled crews and their two Airbus H145 helicopters which operate seven days per week, 365 days per year.

Darren added: “It has been a fantastic two years working with Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice and there have been some great initiatives to look back on, such as The SuperCar experiences and the more recent Kate Rusby Charity Christmas CD. We are now looking forward to many new fund-raising initiatives with YAA who have some fantastic ideas and plans for the next two years.”

Garry Wilkinson, Director of Fundraising from Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: “We are absolutely ecstatic to have been chosen at Meadowhall’s Charity partner for the next two years.  We already have lots of plans a foot for exciting fundraising initiatives and are looking forward to working with and further engaging with the people of South Yorkshire and the visitors to Meadowhall.  As an independent Charity, partnerships such as this with Meadowhall are vitally important to the YAA and we are very much looking forward to working with their team and maximising the opportunity given to us.”

The Foundation is the charitable arm of Gannett Co Inc, owner of Newsquest Media Group, which publishes regional and local newspapers, websites and magazines across the UK, including The Press.

YAA will use the £5,340 to buy new oxygen cylinders that are needed on board its two helicopters. The money will pay for six cylinders.

Caroline Myers, grants and trusts officer at the charity, which relies on donations, said: “We are delighted to receive this support from the Gannett Foundation.

“As a charity, we need to fundraise £12,000 each day to keep both helicopters flying as and when needed. This is only achieved thanks to the kind support given by local people, organisations, and trusts and foundations of Yorkshire each year.

“Thank you for awarding this very generous grant, it will undoubtedly help save lives in Yorkshire.”

The YAA’s critical care teams treat, on average, three patients each day and, of these, two will require vital oxygen therapy at the scene of the incidents.

From April 1, 2016, to March 31, 2017, the charity undertook 1,414 missions, its critical care teams treated 1,183 patients at the roadside and the helicopters airlifted more than 580 people to a hospital.

The Riccall Regen Centre, a community centre built, funded and operated by the community, for the community, will use the £2,000 towards its Changing Places project.

It wants to adapt one of its changing rooms at the community centre for the use of older children and adults with disabilities.

The main items needed for the project, which is expected to cost £30,000 altogether, are an electric height adjustable changing table, a ceiling hoist and a height adjustable washbasin.​

Doreen Watson, a trustee of the centre, said: “The project will mean we will be able to make our centre accessible to everyone, not just people with disabilities but their whole families.

“We are delighted the Gannett Foundation is willing to support us.”

The centre holds various events, including meetings, weddings, christenings and parties. Doreen said the Changing Places project will mean people with disabilities will be able to change “with dignity” at the centre.

The Gannett Foundation provides funding to support projects and organisations in areas where Newsquest operates. The funds are managed by the Quartet Community Foundation and, in the last 10 years alone, the Gannett Foundation has made grants in the UK totalling nearly £4 million.​

The rapid response emergency service won the 2017 Air Ambulance Service Award at a glittering event at the Grange Hotel, London.

The Health Business Awards recognise and celebrate the significant contributions made each year by organisations and individuals that work inside and alongside the NHS. They were presented by broadcaster, journalist and physician Dr Phil Hammond.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance serves five million people across Yorkshire and carries out over 1,250 missions every year and needs to raise £12,000 every day to keep saving lives.

Over the last 12 months, the charity has fully brought into service two, new state-of-the-art Airbus H145

helicopters, which carry the latest generation of medical equipment.

The YAA has also introduced extended night flying hours and started carrying blood on board for the first time enabling critically injured patients to receive transfusions at the scene of accidents or in the air.

Abby Barmby, YAA Director of Marketing and Communications, said: “2017 was a major year for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and we are delighted that our achievements as a service have been recognised with this prestigious award.  ​

“For us, this success reinforces our commitment to providing the best possible Air Ambulance service to the people of Yorkshire and it’s visitors.  We really are very humbled to have been given this award.”

Photo caption: Yorkshire Air Ambulance Director of Marketing and Communications Abby Barmby (centre) and Marketing and Communications Manager Olivia Lees receive the Air Ambulance Service Award at the Health Business Awards from Dr Phil Hammond.

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The Lee Pearsall Memorial Game held every Boxing Day since 2014 is in remembrance of Lee Pearsall, who was a much loved and respected individual in the community.

The event this year was inundated with support from local and national businesses who donated some incredible prizes that included, a break in the Yorkshire Dales, flying experience, tickets from Andrew Lloyd Webbers School of Rock musical and an evening with Alan Shearer, plus many more.

Event organiser Chris Hargrave said “We have been completely blown away by the response and the support we have had this year. The Yorkshire Air Ambulance is a worthy cause and doing something like this helps remember Lee in a positive way, along with bringing our small community together to remember him.”

The event was held at Denaby United FC’s pitch, Old Road, Conisbrough where they provided changing facilities and clubhouse to the event free of charge. The club then kindly donated a percentage of their takings on the day to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance requires £12,000 per day to operate and relies solely on donations from events like this to remain operational.

Planning is currently underway for next years event and the organisers are currently selecting their chosen charity, if you would like to support or donate to this event please contact Chris Hargrave at E: chrishargrave@live.co.uk or Shaun Woodward at E: swoodward711@yahoo.co.uk

Welcome to Yorkshire has unveiled the first set of Tour de Yorkshire roadshows which will take place across the county in the run up to this year’s races.

The roadshows give a detailed view of the route and provide local residents, businesses and community groups with all the information they need to embrace the fourth edition.

Welcome to Yorkshire is joining forces with local authorities to run the shows at a variety of venues along the 2018 route and information will be shared on how to get involved, build excitement and maximise the benefits of worldwide media coverage between 3-6 May.

Details on road closures, the annual sportive and Welcome to Yorkshire’s various cycling legacy projects will be discussed, along with ways people can become official Tour Makers or take part in the ever popular best dressed and land art competitions.

Marketing, website and social media tips will also be provided, as well as ways businesses can embrace the huge influx of visitors that come to watch the action in person.

Welcome to Yorkshire Chief Executive Sir Gary Verity said: “The Tour de Yorkshire and Asda Tour de Yorkshire Women’s Race are now recognised as some of the best supported races in the world and that’s down to the great people of this county taking them to their hearts.

“We run these roadshows to share information about how the races work and to encourage people to show off their community to a global TV audience of almost 10 million people.

“I’d encourage everyone who lives or works on the route to come along, ask questions and get inspired on how we can all make the 2018 edition the biggest and best one yet.”

The first set of 2018 Tour de Yorkshire roadshows are as follows:

Tuesday 9 January: Doncaster – 2:30pm – 4:30pm

Thursday 11 January: Beverley – 10am – 12pm

Monday 15 January: Scarborough – 5pm – 7pm

Tuesday 16 January: Richmond – 5pm – 7pm

Wednesday 17 January: Catterick – 5pm – 7pm

Thursday 18 January: Barnsley – 5pm – 7pm and Bedale – 7:30pm – 9:30pm

Wednesday 24 January: Leeds – 5pm – 7pm

Thursday 25 January: Ilkley – 13:30am – 15:30pm

Tuesday 30 January: Middleham – 5pm – 7pm

Wednesday 31 January: Leyburn – 5pm – 7pm

Thursday 1 February: Carlton – 5pm – 7pm

Thursday 22 February: Rossington – 5:30pm – 7:30pm

Tuesday 27 February: Elsecar – 5pm – 7pm

Wednesday 7 March: Hooton Pagnell – 10am – 12pm

More dates are being added all the time and full details on how to register can be found at

http://letouryorkshire.com/information/roadshows

Tour Makers are a passionate and reliable team of volunteers who represent the welcoming face of Yorkshire for spectators throughout the three days of action. Being a Tour Maker offers a fantastic opportunity to be part of the race. Information on how to become one can be found at

http://letour.yorkshire.com/tour-makers

Highways England traffic officer Paul Holroyd and colleague Adam Gibb were on the hard shoulder of the M6 in Cumbria, near Shap, helping to recover vehicles from an earlier accident when they were struck by a car.

Adam, 51, from Penrith died at the scene. Paul was put into an induced coma on the roadside and airlifted to the James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, where he underwent 12 hours of surgery.

The devastating accident will feature in Monday night’s episode of Helicopter ER, the award-winning UKTV show, which follows the life-saving work of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

“Two air ambulance services were there and without them I would just not be here,” said Paul from Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria. “They stabilized me at the scene and then got me to the right hospital in just 19 minutes and I cannot thank them enough.”

Football agent Peter Morrison was convicted last month of causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving.

Paul, 52, spent six months in hospital and is now trying to rebuild his shattered life with partner Allison. With amazing grit and determination, the father of five has astounded doctors with the pace of his recovery.

“I’m very stubborn and pigheaded,” added Paul who owns and manages Takoda Camping in Kirkby Stephen. “I’m the sort of person who’s busy from the moment I open my eyes so being in the wheelchair and having to ask people to do things for me has been the most frustrating part.

“Allison has been absolutely phenomenal. Someone was certainly watching over me when I met her. She made the 160-mile round trip to Middlesbrough every day for six months, looking after the kids and keeping the campsite going.

“But I’m getting stronger month by month and I’m on the same road, it’s just a bit bumpier than it was.”

The couple, who are living temporarily in a rented bungalow, have applied for planning permission for a purpose-built bungalow at the campsite so they can continue to run the business.

Paul, who attended most of the court case, released a statement after the verdict in which he called on all drivers not to use their mobile phones behind the wheel.

“I would urge everybody to take more care whilst driving, especially when using the motorways, and to not under any circumstances be tempted to use a mobile phone.

“As this case has proved, lives can change forever in the blink of an eye.”

The accident, which happened in February 2016, features in Monday night’s episode of Helicopter ER, on the Really channel at 9pm.

The episode also features the story of a university student who had to learn to walk and talk again after a road accident and the first mission completed by one of Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s two new state-of-the-art Airbus H145 helicopters.

Helicopter ER is made by York-based Air Television, which recently won two Royal Television Society awards for their work on the compelling series.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) serves 5million people across Yorkshire and carries out over 1,250 missions every year. The charity operates two, state-of-the-art Airbus H145 helicopters and needs to raise £12,000 every day to keep saving lives.

Monday night’s episode completes the second series of Helicopter ER but you can watch it on catch-up on UKTV Play (uktvplay.co.uk)

The Harrogate-based artist has produced four card designs – The Essence of Christmas, Yorkshire Farm and Dales, Helicopter and Woodland Animals and Helicopter and the White Horse – all inspired by a love of Yorkshire, animals and the rapid response emergency service.

Anita has already raised several hundred pounds for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance through the sale of a unique piece of intricate paper cut art which was turned into beautiful notelets. All proceeds from the sale of her specially designed Christmas cards will go the charity.

She said: “As a Harrogate artist and painter, I wanted to use my skills to help this well-loved charity.

“Anyone of us could need the services of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and it costs £12,000 every day to keep its two helicopters in the sky.”

Yorkshire Farm and Dales features farmyard and nativity animals – a tiny brush used to capture their fur and features – lovingly looking up at the Yorkshire Air Ambulance flying over their Dales farmhouse.

The Essence of Christmas includes many things we all associate with the festive period and The Helicopter and the White Horse features the iconic yellow helicopter hovering over children playing in the snow in a Kilburn wood by the famous White Horse.

Anita used a miniature brush to create the incredibly detailed designs which cost £3.50 for a pack of 10 and are available from The Dove Tree Art Studio in Harrogate https://anitabowerman.co.uk or through the Yorkshire Air Ambulance website www.yaa.org.uk

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) serves 5million people across Yorkshire and carries out over 1,250 missions every year. The charity needs to raise £12,000 every day to keep saving lives.

Abby McClymont, Director of Marketing and Communications at Yorkshire Air Ambulance said: “Anita’s lovely cards have been so popular this year and we’re seeing more cards than ever before being sold to support the YAA. 

“Her wonderfully picturesque and creative designs really seem to have captured the hearts of our supporters – we’re so glad everyone loves them, and are grateful to Anita for coming up with such beautiful scenes incorporating our helicopters.”

Photo caption: The unique Christmas card, Yorkshire Farm and Dales, designed by Anita Bowerman for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Welcome to Yorkshire Chief Executive Sir Gary Verity led a packed press conference on Tuesday morning with the Amaury Sport Organisation’s Tour de France Director Christian Prudhomme. There were many star riders in attendance along with Yorkshire cycling legends such as Brian Robinson, Malcolm Elliott and Denise Burton-Cole.

The fourth edition of the route has been expanded from three to four stages and will take place between 3-6 May 2018. It encompasses all four corners of the county and takes in 169 villages, towns and cities along the way:

STAGE ONE: 182km – ARTS AND CULTURE – BEVERLEY TO DONCASTER Thursday 3 May

The race gets going in Beverley’s historic market place before proceeding to the seaside resort of Hornsea. The peloton will then tackle a 16km loop before heading back through Beverley and into the Yorkshire Wolds. The first classified climb at Baggaby Hill will get the legs pumping before a brisk descent into Pocklington for the opening intermediate sprint. After passing through Holme-on-Spalding Moor the pace will gradually ramp up again for a second sprint in Howden and then it’s full steam into Doncaster on the newly opened Great Yorkshire Way. The riders will sweep past the world-famous Racecourse before a flat-out finish along South Parade.

STAGE TWO: 149km – YORKSHIRE HERITAGE – BARNSLEY TO ILKLEY Friday 4 May

The peloton will start outside Barnsley’s impressive Town Hall and head towards Penistone. The route ventures into Worsbrough and the first mountains classification points are up for grabs at Blacker Hill. With those in the bag the race will pass though Elsecar before an intermediate sprint is contested in Swinton. Conisbrough Castle provides a stunning backdrop before the riders continue north for a second intermediate sprint in Scholes, and Harewood House also makes an appearance prior to the classified Côte de Old Pool Bank climb. The route will then pass through Otley and Ilkley before reaching the race’s first-ever summit finish on the Cow and Calf. In an added twist, King of the Mountains points will also be on offer right before the stage winner is crowned on top of this iconic Yorkshire climb.

STAGE THREE: 184km – MARKET TOWNS – RICHMOND TO SCARBOROUGH Saturday 5 May

The riders will roll out of Richmond’s cobbled market place and head to Catterick Garrison before the start flag is lowered. They’ll then traverse Wensleydale and continue in an easterly direction at Leyburn, on to Morton on Swale where the first intermediate sprint will be fought out. Northallerton and Thirsk will then provide warm welcomes, and no sooner have the riders crossed into the North York Moors than they’ll be faced with the fearsome Sutton Bank climb. The first contenders over the top there will be rewarded with points in the mountains classification. The action then passes through Helmsley and on to Pickering for a second intermediate sprint. The climbers will be looking to come to the fore again on the Côte de Silpho before the race breezes into Scarborough for the first time. Hugging the east coast, the peloton will continue on to Filey and sample its picturesque seafront before heading inland and back towards Scarborough. The frontrunners will sweep along South Bay, around the castle walls, and onto the now-legendary finish along North Bay.

STAGE FOUR: 189.5km – THE YORKSHIRE TERRIER – HALIFAX TO LEEDS Sunday 6 May

The Piece Hall in Halifax provides a spectacular location for the start of this decisive stage and the first of six categorised climbs comes on the Côte de Hebden Bridge. The race will head up the cobbled Main Street in Haworth before dropping into Goose Eye for the next punishing ascent. Crossing from Brontë Country into Craven, the route heads through Skipton and the next climb is looming on Barden Moor. The action will then head into the Dales before the riders contest the first intermediate sprint in view of Kilnsey Crag. The Côte de Park Rash will no-doubt cement its place in Tour de Yorkshire folklore as the peloton grind their way up it, and the route continues on to Masham and then into Nidderdale before making a return to the formidable Côte de Greenhow Hill for the first time since 2016. The undulating terrain never relents and shortly after passing through Otley the next categorised climb is on the cards at Otley Chevin. If that wasn’t enough, the Côte de Black Hill Road must also be crested before the race sweeps into Leeds and reaches a rip-roaring conclusion on The Headrow – on exactly the same spot as where the Tour de France started in 2014.

Full stage maps can be downloaded at https://yorkshire.app.box.com/v/TDY2018PressPack and photographs from the press conference will also be made available for download there in due course.

Sir Gary Verity said: “It was a proud moment unveiling the full route today. We’ve worked hard to design a dramatic and varied parcours which takes in some of our county’s most spectacular terrain. I’m sure the world’s best riders will relish the challenge it poses and we’ll be treated to a tremendous fourth edition.

“Last year’s race attracted 2.2 million spectators and generated £64 million for the local economy, and now that is has been extended from three to four days, the 2018 Tour de Yorkshire promises to be the biggest and best one yet.”

Christian Prudhomme said: “Gary and his team have done a fantastic job and I am excited by what next year’s route has in store. I enjoy coming to Yorkshire and the county always puts on a tremendous show.

“Seeing the race finish on The Headrow in Leeds will be particularly special and bring back a lot of happy memories from when the Tour de France started there in 2014. I still regard that as one of our grandest Grand Départs and I’m sure we’ll be in for another memorable day. The way Yorkshire supports cycling is incredible I look forward to seeing more bikes, banners and bunting in 2018.”

Julie Harrington, Chief Executive of British Cycling, said: “Next year’s Tour de Yorkshire is shaping up to be the best yet and British Cycling is proud to support Welcome to Yorkshire and ASO as they seek to inspire people across the county to get active by getting on their bikes.

“Britain’s appetite for seeing world-class cycle sport has never been healthier and the people of Yorkshire can make a strong claim to be among the country’s biggest bike lovers.”

Asda Tour de Yorkshire Women’s Race

Following its phenomenal success over the last three years, the Asda Tour de Yorkshire Women’s Race will double in size from one day to two in 2018 and take place on 3-4 May. It will once again offer one of the largest prize pots in the sport and a stellar cast of riders will be on hand to compete on Yorkshire roads.

The stages will start each morning and follow the last 132km and 121.5km respectively of the men’s stages which commence later each day.

Sir Gary Verity said: “We are proud of our commitment to promoting women’s cycling and are delighted to see the Asda Tour de Yorkshire Women’s Race doubling in size in 2018. Expanding the race to two days means we can offer our most varied route yet which will challenge the world’s best riders.

“Both stages will feature the same sprints and climbs as the men and the atmosphere on the Cow and Calf for the race’s culmination is sure to be electric.”

Maserati Tour de Yorkshire Ride

It was also revealed that the Maserati Tour de Yorkshire Ride sportive will be back for a fourth successive year in 2018.

Leeds was unveiled as the start and finish location for the event which will be held on Sunday 6 May. 6,000 amateur cyclists will have the chance to ride some of the county’s most iconic roads just hours before the Tour de Yorkshire reaches its conclusion.

Sir Gary Verity said: “One of the things I most enjoy about cycling is that you can ride the same roads as the pros, and what better way to do so than with top-class support and thousands of other cyclists joining you along the way. The three routes on offer will be suitable for all abilities and anyone taking part is sure to have an amazing experience.”

Nick Rusling, CEO of the sportive organisers Human Race, said: “The sportive riders will get to cycle on the same day, same roads, with the same crowds and finish line, as the pros – in Yorkshire. What could be better? The last time we came to Leeds entry places sold out within a week and we can’t wait to come back. We will be there to give everyone a medal at the end.”

Full route details for the sportive will be announced when general entries open on Tuesday 9 January. Those keen to guarantee a place before then can sign up now and opt to fundraise for one of eight charities. Find out more at http://letour.yorkshire.com/sportive

Official Tour de Yorkshire Charity – Yorkshire Air Ambulance

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance has also been confirmed as the official charity for the fourth edition of the Tour de Yorkshire.

The news signals the start of a range of fundraising initiatives throughout 2018 which aim to raise awareness of the great work the organisation does to provide a rapid response emergency service to over five million people across Yorkshire.

Sir Gary Verity said: “We are proud to be partnering with Yorkshire Air Ambulance for the 2018 Tour de Yorkshire. They deliver an invaluable service across the county and the race provides a great platform for them to fundraise and raise awareness. We will be supporting them wholeheartedly over the next 12 months.”

Peter Sunderland MBE, DL, Chairman of Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: “We feel really privileged to have been chosen and look forward to working with Welcome to Yorkshire over the next 12 months.

“The Tour de Yorkshire showcases our wonderful county to a global audience and we are grateful for the opportunity to run many valuable fundraising initiatives alongside the race and raise awareness about our life-saving charity.”

Full details on the Yorkshire Air Ambulance do can be found at http://yorkshireairambulance.org.uk