Nearly 200 tractors have taken part in the 15th Beadlam Charity Tractor Run helping to drive the total raised for Yorkshire Air Ambulance to more than £100,000.

The event – now one of the biggest annual tractor runs in the country – was launched in 2003 by retired local builder Bernard Simpson.

Just 35 tractors took part in the first run, raising £1,700 for the fledging Yorkshire Air Ambulance charity. The following year the number of vehicles and the amount raised more than doubled.

Bernard, 88, and his family now organise what is a major annual event that attracts around 200 tractors. The run takes them on a 50-mile route through 19 North Yorkshire villages, with some off-road highlights, and a hearty lunch provided by Bernard’s wife Olive and a team of caterers and volunteers.

This year’s event raised just over £10,000 bringing the total donated to Yorkshire Air Ambulance to more than £100,000.

Bernard’s son, Malcolm, an estate worker from Kirbymoorside, said: “I do a lot of the organising now, but this is still very much my Dad’s event.

“We get people coming from all over the place – including Scotland, Liverpool and Nottinghamshire – and get fantastic support from a team of local volunteers.

“Most of the money we raise comes from street collections in the local villages and it’s fantastic that we have got to the £100,000 mark for our local air ambulance charity.”

The tractor run starts each year from Beadlam Grange Farm, owned by the Rooke family, who themselves have twice needed Yorkshire Air Ambulance after separate horse riding and roof fall accidents.

The rapid response emergency charity serves 5 million people and carries out over 1,250 missions every year. It needs to raise £12,000 every day and has just replaced its two, ageing aircraft with brand new, state-of-the-art Airbus H145 helicopters.

Bob Smailes at the Yorkshire Air Ambulance said: “The Beadlam Tractor Run is now a firm fixture in the Yorkshire Air Ambulance events calendar. The support we receive on the route is wonderful.

“Bernard is a true ambassador for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and I cannot thank him enough for his support and dedication over the years, and of course Olive for her wonderful catering, which is always a real treat!  Having Malcolm on board now is great and the Beadlam Tractor Run continues to go from strength to strength.”

Bernard was recently recognised by the YAA for his fundraising efforts when he and Olive were presented with a special Supporter’s Award at the charity’s annual recognition awards ceremony.

A grateful cyclist has swapped pedals for walking poles to thank Yorkshire Air Ambulance a year to the day after a life-changing accident.

Mike Hudson suffered a spinal crush injury when he crashed into the back of a van less than a mile from his Harrogate home, after a day’s cycling in the Yorkshire Dales.

“I don’t really remember anything about the accident, but understand I basically head butted the back of the van which crushed my spinal cord,” said the 55-year-old.

“I came around about 10 or 15 minutes later and was surrounded by medics, police and my family. I was just laid on the ground and couldn’t move, which was pretty scary, and when I heard the air ambulance land I knew I’d done some serious damage.”

Mike, a surveyor with the National Grid in Leeds, was airlifted in minutes to specialists at Leeds General Infirmary for treatment.

The experienced cyclist and time triallist has recovered well, although has been left with muscle weakness. He added: “I know I’ve been very lucky. I was only doing about 10mph and I was also able to get the medical attention I needed very quickly thanks to the air ambulance. It could have been a lot worse.”

To mark the one year anniversary of his accident Mike joined a group of family and friends to climb the 950m Lake District mountain Helvellyn, the third highest peak in England.

The mountain challenge is set to raise around £2,000 for Yorkshire Air Ambulance, the rapid response emergency charity that serves 5million people across the region, flying over 1,250 missions every year.

Mike, a father of three, added: “It was quite a challenge because I can trip over things more readily now as my feet don’t pick up, but it was a great day.

“When I realised how much the air ambulance need to raise each year to keep on providing what is a vital service in Yorkshire, I wanted to do something to help pay my fare!

“When you talk to people it is surprising to find just how many have either been helped by Yorkshire Air Ambulance or know someone who has benefitted. It is a brilliant service and charity.”

Yorkshire Air Ambulance needs to raise £12,000 every day to keep flying and has just replaced its two, ageing aircraft with brand new, state-of-the-art Airbus H145 helicopters.

The Leeds office of business advisory firm Deloitte has raised £31,00 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

The money was collected through a range of fundraising activities as part of a two-year partnership between Deloitte and the charity, whose two helicopters serve more than five million people across the county and attend more than 1,000 incidents a year.

Almost £8,000 came from Deloitte employees donating an hour’s salary, while a raffle at the firm’s Summer Ball produced nearly £3,000 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Other events organised by the Deloitte fundraising team included a Halloween lunch, a 14-mile canoeing challenge and a Tax team tuck shop.

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance was chosen as the firm’s charity partner after a vote among all 480 employees in the Leeds office.

Kerry Garner, West & South Yorkshire Regional Fundraising Manager for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: “It has been a pleasure working with the Deloitte team in Leeds over past two years, and we are hugely grateful for their amazing fundraising efforts.”

Helen Kaye, partner at Deloitte added: “Organising so many events has been extremely rewarding for us. Everyone knows about the fantastic, life-saving work of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, but without the fundraising efforts of individuals and organisations it wouldn’t be able to keep its helicopters in the air.”

He should have been at the show with his stock of Ayrshires. Instead, they presented a trophy in his memory. Michael Spink was in New Zealand – living the dream, his friends said – when a vehicle hit him from behind as he walked along a state highway. He was 24.

In March, two months after the accident, his fellow members of Knaresborough Young Farmers organised a 120-strong tractor run which raised £8,000 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Yesterday, some of them watched as the Yorkshire Agricultural Society presented the Michael Spink Memorial Perpetual Trophy for the first time. It went to Richard Baynes from Hexham, Northumberland, who was with a team of 11 showing Ayrshires and dairy Shorthorns, including the champion Ayrshire heifer, Marleycote Lily. “It’s a particular honour in the circumstances,” he said, after the presentation by the ring steward and a friend of the Spink family, Michael Warren. Michael’s parents, his brother and two sisters watched with mixed emotions as the silver cup was handed over. “He would have been here today but he wouldn’t have been showing in the ring, said his father, Graham. “He was shy that way.” His son had bought some Ayrshire calves before he went to New Zealand, which would have formed the core of his own herd when he returned.

He had owned Ayrshires since he was eight, when his dad bought him some for the family farm at Scotton. “He would have loved to see his name on an Ayrshire trophy,” said his mother, Jane. “This is something really positive for us and we are so honoured to have a trophy dedicated to him.” Mr. Warren paid his own tribute in the judging ring. “He was a very good stock judge,” he said.

Courageous Charlotte Leighton is taking her fundraising for Yorkshire Air Ambulance to new heights!

The 21-year-old, who suffered serious head and facial injuries in a childhood road accident, will be skydiving from 15,000ft later this month to support the charity she loves.

Charlotte and her family have already raised over £100,000 for the rapid response emergency service since she was knocked down near her Tollerton home in March 2006.

The impact caused devastating head and facial injuries and her life was only saved thanks to treatment at the scene by Air Ambulance medics and the speed she was airlifted to specialists at Leeds General Infirmary.

“If Yorkshire Air Ambulance had not been there I would not be here. It’s as simple as that,” said Charlotte, who along with Mum Sue, is a registered volunteer for the charity.

“They are a massive part of my life and we all, as a family, try to do as much as we can to raise money but also to raise awareness of the work the air ambulance does.”

Charlotte suffered multiple fractures to her forehead, eye sockets, jaw and leg and underwent pioneering facial reconstruction surgery following the accident.

She is still undergoing treatment, recently having surgery which involved breaking her upper jaw and fitting a titanium plate. She is now awaiting further bone grafts and implants.

“It is hard. You have one operation and recover and get back to how you are and then you’re down again with the next one. It does wear you out a bit but hopefully I can now see some light at the end of the tunnel.”

Despite her many operations, Charlotte has lived life to the full becoming a talented equestrian rider, competing with her younger sister Serena for York and Ainsty South Pony Club and at British Show Jumping events throughout the country.

Earlier this month she beat off the challenge from 90 other riders to win individual and team novice prizes at a coveted area event.

But next month Charlotte, Serena and Dad Colin will be taking on a different challenge – the UK’s highest skydive. The trio will tandem jump from 15,000ft above Lincolnshire and hope to raise a sky-high sum for the YAA.

Charlotte added: “It is something we’ve really wanted to do for a long time and so, at the moment, we are all really excited about it and hope to raise a lot of money.”

Yorkshire Air Ambulance serves 5million people and carries out over 1,250 missions every year. It needs to raise £12,000 every day and has just replaced its two, ageing aircraft with brand new, state-of-the-art Airbus H145 helicopters.

If you would like to support Charlotte, Serena and their Dad go to their Just Giving Page https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/leightonsskydive

Masham-based I’Anson has pledged to donate £60,000 over three years to the air ambulance charity, to support its vital, lifesaving work throughout the county. The company will fund the donation out of the savings it is set to make from replacing its old style conventional lighting with state of the art LEDs.

The changes are set to be implemented in the firm’s mill, the hub of the 7.5 acre site where feed for beef and dairy cattle, sheep, lambs, horses as well as for a range of other farm animals are manufactured, along with ingredients for pet foods. The new £35,000 lighting system will see 320 modern LED bulbs replace over 800 conventional fluorescent fittings in a move which will reduce CO2 emissions while also saving both energy and money.

Calculations performed by the installer have shown that the older lighting system used 260,000 Kilowatt hours (kWh) per annum, while the new system will only use 80,000 kWh a year – a saving of 70 per cent. The 180,000 kWh saving is equivalent to around £20,000 in energy costs. The reduction in energy usage will reduce the company’s carbon footprint by 98.5 tonnes.

The new lighting system will also lead to greatly reduced physical waste, as the average LED light has a lifespan of 50,000 hours, compared to the 8,000 hours offered by fluorescent bulbs.

Along with supporting general running costs, some of the donation will go towards the provision of night vision goggles for air ambulance pilots, allowing the helicopter to safely operate in hours of darkness.

Chris I’Anson, Managing Director of I’Anson, said: “We’re a Yorkshire company through and through and we believe in putting something back into the local community. In a large county like this, where much of the countryside operates as an open air factory, a fully functional air ambulance is a real necessity.  Some of the more remote areas are very difficult to access by road and in an emergency the air ambulance can literally mean the difference between life and death for a casualty.

“To be able to make this donation as a direct result of taking action to reduce our carbon footprint and our energy consumption is particularly pleasing. The drivers in our transport fleet criss-cross the region every day and often see the distinctive air ambulance in the skies so , as a company, we have a real pride in knowing that we are making a contribution to keeping the service operating. I’ve known Paul Gowland and Helen Callear from Yorkshire Air Ambulance for a while now and my thanks go to them for helping make this donation possible.”

In 2016, Yorkshire’s two air ambulances flew 1,390 missions, equating to almost four a day, and treated 855 patients. The helicopters are based at airbases which allow them to access any part of Yorkshire within 20 minutes flying time.

Agriculture continues to be one of the most dangerous industries in the UK, with 27 people suffering fatal injuries during the course of their work in 2016.

Paul Gowland, Director of Fundraising at Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said:

“This is a very generous and much appreciated gesture by I’Anson that will help us to continue providing our much needed service. It’s particularly appropriate that one of Yorkshire’s best known and longest established rural businesses should be helping an operation that does much of its work in some of the county’s most remote corners. We are very proud that our principal supporters are local, family-owned companies and I’Anson is a perfect match and we welcome them to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance family.”

Following the donation, I’Anson has rebranded its already distinctive fleet of delivery vehicles with new Yorkshire Air Ambulance livery.

Now one of the UK’s most successful specialist suppliers of farm feeds, micronized ingredients and horse feeds, with customers in over 30 countries worldwide, I’Anson is an independent, fourth generation, family-owned and managed company. For more information visit www.ianson.co.uk.

Since May 2016, the 100-strong team has hosted a huge range of fund-raising events from the usual bake sales, quizzes, raffles and organised sweepstakes, to sponsored mountain climbing, a beard growing competition and a pie-in-the- face game!

The team succeeded in raising £3,681 which was then matched by Clarion, enabling the firm to donate over £7,000 to Yorkshire Air Ambulance, massively beating its £5,000 fundraising target.

“The Clarion team has really risen to the challenge, coming up with lots of weird and wonderful ways of raising much-needed funds for this great Yorkshire charity,” explains Roger Hutton, managing partner of Clarion.  “Many thanks to everyone for their generosity and enthusiasm – it’s been great fun as well as helping Yorkshire Air Ambulance to continue saving lives throughout the region.”

Kerry Garner of Yorkshire Air Ambulance: “We rely on the generosity of individuals and organisations to enable us to operate our two air ambulances and provide lifesaving state-of-the-art care to a population of around five million people across four million acres; a service which costs £12,000 a day to run.  We really appreciate Clarion’s efforts on our behalf.”

To date, the Yorkshire Air Ambulance has rescued over 7,000 people in the region.

The actor suffered multiple injuries and a cardiac arrest after the crash on the A59 near Skipton last September.

Martin was returning to York on his bike after visiting a friend in Keswick when a car pulled out of a side road in front of him.

The collision caused serious injuries including 17 broken ribs, a severely lacerated liver, two punctured lungs and a badly broken ankle.

Martin stopped breathing but was successfully revived by paramedics before being airlifted to Leeds General Infirmary where he was placed in an induced coma for several days.

The 61-year-old spent over two months in hospital before starting a long physical and psychological recuperation.

During a visit to Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s air base at Nostell, near Wakefield, Martin met the two paramedics who treated him at the scene.

“The fact that I’ve survived is a miracle. If I had not got immediate care at the roadside and then flown so quickly to hospital I don’t think I would have made it.

“Meeting the people who actually saved my life was one of the greatest days of my life,” said the father-of-two.

“It was very emotional and they could not believe that I had come through. Apparently, the survival rate for someone who punctures both lungs is just one percent and I also stopped breathing for quite a long time.”

Martin is now hoping to organise fundraising events for Yorkshire Air Ambulance, including a charity celebrity cricket match at Heworth Cricket Club in September.

Abby McClymont of the YAA added “We were delighted to be able to welcome Martin to Nostell to see first-hand the work we do and what will have happened on the day of his accident. 

“It’s remarkable to hear Martin’s story and how ill he was, but to see him now looking so well is fantastic.  We are glad we were able to help Martin in his time of need.”

The rapid response emergency service serves 5million people and carries out over 1,250 missions every year. It needs to raise £12,000 every day to keep flying and has just replaced its two, ageing aircraft with brand new, state-of-the-art Airbus H145 helicopters.

Martin is back at work having recently finished a run playing the Lord Mayor of Hull in a production of The Hypocrite for the Hull Truck Theatre Company and Royal Shakespeare Company.

After missing last year’s panto at York Theatre Royal, he will be back this year and is sure to receive a rapturous reception from audiences.

A York man is prepared to run through fire, ice and mud to raise money for the air ambulance service that saved his Dad’s life.

Guy Kilner, Director at Energi Trampoline Park and three other staff members are tackling the Dirty Heroes Obstacle Race at Duncombe Park, Helmsley.

The event involves a gruelling 10-mile course with more than 30 obstacles including ice pits, electric shocks, scaling walls, strength tests, squeezing through tunnels and of course lots of mud.

Guy, 40, is putting himself through this endurance test to raise money for Yorkshire Air Ambulance who saved his father’s life at Energi York in May last year, just three days after the Park opened.

Experienced cleaning contractor Michael Kilner was working for his son on site when he fell off a ladder onto a concrete floor suffering a major head injury.

“It was a huge shock,” said Guy. “He had fallen from six rungs up and when I got there our first aiders were with him and had called the emergency services. He didn’t look good.”

Michael, was stabilised at the scene by air ambulance medics and flown to Leeds General Infirmary. During a five-hour operation neurosurgeons had to cut away part of the left side of his brain to release mounting pressure and swelling.

The 66-year-old was in hospital in Leeds and York for 10 weeks before transferring to Goole Neurorehabilitation Centre for a further 12 weeks.

Guy added: “The air ambulance doctor and paramedics being there and their quick decision-making made the difference. He was anaesthetised at the scene and flown to Leeds in 10 minutes and quite simply my Dad would not have survived without them. I cannot thank them enough.”

Michael, from Wheldrake, has no recollection of the accident but knows just how lucky he was to survive it. The grandfather had a titanium plate fitted in his head last December and is still recovering.

“I’ve always wanted to fly in a helicopter but not in these circumstances,” he said. “I don’t remember the journey at all but I know I’ve been very lucky. If I had not got to hospital so quickly I would not have made it.

“I still get very tired and my short-term memory is not great, but I’m getting there and I’ve had great support from my family and friends.”

Guy has been raising money for Yorkshire Air Ambulance since the accident through collection boxes at Energi Park. He and three other staff members are taking on the Dirty Heroes Obstacle Course on July 22. If you would like to sponsor them a Just Giving page has been set up: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/enzoenergiheros

Yorkshire Air Ambulance serves 5million people and carries out over 1,250 missions every year. It needs to raise £12,000 every day to keep flying and has just replaced its two, ageing aircraft with brand new, state-of-the-art Airbus H145 helicopters.

The family-owned water producer and bottler has placed the charity’s iconic yellow helicopters on the back of two trucks that deliver its own-label Ice Valley water across the region.

Shepley Spring is the UK’s largest independent bottled water company manufacturing over 250 million bottles per year at its two purpose-designed plants in Shepley and Kirkburton.

The company has chosen Yorkshire Air Ambulance as its official charity partner for the last four years but has also been supplying free water for the rapid response emergency service for considerably longer.

Managing Director James Smith said: “I am a keen cyclist and motor cyclist – both activities which are high up the risk list and so I know just how vital a service Yorkshire Air Ambulance provide.

“We, as a family, have had members and friends who have needed their services and so have a very clear understanding about just how important this charity is to Yorkshire.

“We, as a company, also do as much as we can to support Yorkshire so we are even more proud to support Yorkshire Air Ambulance, a brilliant charity that saves lives across the county.”

Shepley Spring produce their own Ice Valley brand as well bottling many Supermarket own-label spring waters – including those for Morrisons, Sainsbury, Aldi and Lidl.

As a leading supporter of Yorkshire Air Ambulance the company has its logo on the charity’s two, state-of-the-art Airbus H145 helicopters.

Now those helicopters make a striking sight on the back of the two Ice Valley Trucks as James added: “The trucks do a lot of their deliveries in Yorkshire and we thought this would be a great way to raise the profile of the Air Ambulance and to remind people that they have this great charity in their area.”

Yorkshire Air Ambulance serves 5million people and carries out over 1,250 missions every year. It needs to raise £12,000 every day to keep its two aircraft flying.

Director of Marketing and Communications Abby McClymont said: “Shepley Springs have been a great supporter of the YAA and we are delighted to work with them.

“The two trucks look absolutely amazing and really help us raise awareness of the charity across the region.  Seeing the image of one of our helicopters on the back doors is a great reminder to people of the work we do.

“We’d really like to thank James, his family and everyone at Shepley Springs for their continued support.”

Picture caption: One of the two Shepley Spring lorries which are carrying the Yorkshire Air Ambulance message throughout the county.

The Deputy Community Banking Director in Yorkshire for Barclays Bank will visit 45 bank branches on his route and will be joined daily by Barclays colleagues who are also raising funds and sponsorship money.

David, from Nidderdale, said: “I did Land’s End to John O’Groats ten years ago and wanted to do another major walk that would link Barclays across the North and raise a lot of money for charity.

“Barclays has a fantastic Colleague Community Programme that encourages employees to get involved in the causes we care about in the communities we serve. 

“It’s about giving back skills, time and energy and I’m thrilled to be undertaking this challenge and to have had so much support. There’s been something of a movement that is gathering pace which is lovely.

“I wanted to pick a charity that people can relate to locally. I’m supporting five air ambulance services on the route, although given my roots, I expect the largest amount of fundraising will go to Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

 “Most people assume that they are Government funded but that is not the case and, certainly across Yorkshire, there are many people who know first- hand just what an amazing service the air ambulance provides.”

Yorkshire Air Ambulance serves 5million people and carries out over 1,250 missions every year. It needs to raise £12,000 every day and has just replaced its two, ageing aircraft with brand new, state-of-the-art Airbus H145 helicopters.

David, 54, will be visiting 13 Barclays branches in Yorkshire during his Great North Walk including Leeds, Sheffield, Doncaster, Bradford, Skipton and Harrogate.

He has set up a JustGiving page. If you would like to support David please go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/davidpenngreatnorthwalkyaa