General

An army of volunteers across Yorkshire have helped to create over 10,000 origami angels during lockdown, to be exhibited at Ripon Cathedral for their Wing and a Prayer project, raising vital funds for the Cathedral and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA).

The Wing and a Prayer project which was launched in May this year, asked people to donate ‘an angel’ to be placed inside the cathedral in honour of key workers and those who are sacrificing so much to keep the country safe during the pandemic.

Church goers, school children and volunteers from the Yorkshire Air Ambulance hand folded the 10,000 angels, which were hoisted by 24 volunteers in a huge net 50 feet above the Nave of the cathedral.

Since the launch, the project has raised an impressive £130,000 for both Ripon Cathedral and the YAA. The money raised will be used to offset the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on cathedral visitor donations and YAA fundraising events– sources of income on which the Cathedral and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance rely.

The project opened for the first time to the general public on Saturday 1^st August, welcoming an impressive 500 visitors over the first weekend.

Linda Stead, North Yorkshire Regional Fundraiser for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: “This is a project very close to our charity’s heart and with event cancellations and fundraising activities on hold, YAA needs all the support we can get to keep both of our helicopters in the air and flying across the region.

We have been overwhelmed by the support the Wing and a Prayer project has received over the last few months and the money raised will help tremendously towards the vital funding of our service. We would like to thank everyone who has donated to the project and Ripon Cathedral for their continued support. We would also like to thank all of the volunteers who help fold the angels.”

The free exhibition is open every day until the 29^th September following a special service of thanksgiving on Sunday 27^th September, the feast of St Michael and All Angels.

Read more about the angels at Ripon Cathedral HERE.

The North Yorkshire Moors Moorland Organisation (NYMMO) have surpassed their £25,000 fundraising milestone for the life-saving rapid response charity, the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) serves 5 million people across Yorkshire and carries out over 1,500 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.

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance has been the main beneficiary of the North Yorkshire Moors Moorland Organisation’s charity events since it was founded in December 2015.

The group has now raised £25,805.05 through a variety of events such as merchandise sales, raffles and sweepstakes. They have also organised auctions where they have teamed up with local businesses as well as arranging shoot days with local farmers.

Tina Brough, coordinator of NYMMO, said: “Each year we discuss where the proceeds of our fundraising efforts should go to and each year it’s a unanimous decision that the Yorkshire Air Ambulance receives the money as it is such a vital service for our rural areas. The money raised is a real team effort and shows just how good our rural communities are.”

Lin Stead, North Yorkshire Regional Fundraiser for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: “We would like to thank the NYMMO for their continued support and generosity over the last five years, to raise £25,805.05 is such an incredible achievement.

Organisations like NYMMO are the life-blood of our charity and the money raised will help greatly towards the vital funding of our service enabling us to continue saving lives across the region, particularly in the North Yorkshire countryside where journey times to hospital are longer and our service is vital to local communities.”

The Mayor of the Borough of Harrogate, Councillor Stuart Martin MBE has presented the Yorkshire Air Ambulance with £10,000 after nominating the life-saving charity as the Mayor’s ‘Charity of the Year’ for the mayoral year 2019-2020

The money was raised through a variety of events and fundraising activities, including a Black Tie dinner at Grantley Hall, a Service of Remembrance at Ripon Cathedral and a Carol Concert at the Royal Hall in Harrogate.

The cheque presentation took place at Grantley Hall who hosted the Black Tie Dinner and in attendance were Mayor Stuart Martin and his wife April Martin, Valeria Sykes owner of Grantley Hall, Helen Callear Director of Fundraising (North and East) and Linda Stead, North Regional Fundraiser both from the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

The Mayor of the Borough of Harrogate, Councillor Stuart Martin MBE, said: “I’m delighted to have been able to support the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and will continue to do so in these uncertain times. I would like to pass my thanks and gratitude to everyone who has supported my fundraising efforts over this past year.”

Linda Stead, North Yorkshire Regional Fundraiser for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: “We would like to thank the Mayor and Mayoress, Stuart and April, for their continued support and generosity over the last year and to everyone who has attended and supported their events.

It costs £12,000 a day to keep both of Yorkshire’s air ambulances maintained and in the air and the money raised will help greatly towards our daily funding and will enable us to continue saving lives across the region, especially in rural areas such as Harrogate and North Yorkshire where journey times to hospital are longer, and our service is so very vital to the smaller communities which we serve.”

Following the easing of lock down restrictions, the YAA fundraising team have worked with a professional safety company to carefully consider their return to fundraising activities with minimum risk to employees, volunteers, donors and the general public.

The YAA now have supporting Covid-19 specific risk assessments. These have been designed and implemented to follow government guidelines and are reviewed weekly and communicated to the teams.

If anyone would like to learn more about the YAA’s return to fundraising activities, please email info@yaa.org.uk and we will be happy to supply more details.

Masham based business, I’Anson Brothers have signed a further three year sponsorship deal with the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, which will bring their support total to over £100,000.

I’Anson Brothers Ltd is one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of animal feed based in Yorkshire. They are a family run business, and have been serving farmers nationwide since 1900.

I’Ansons have been waving the Yorkshire Air Ambulance flag by having the charity’s branding on their fleet of vehicles and since 2016 , they have also pledged over £60,000 from their upgraded energy saving lighting system to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance to help purchase their vital Night Vision Goggles, enabling the Yorkshire Air Ambulance to extend their flying hours.

The company has also raised money through renting out their distribution yard to television production crews and the Tour de Yorkshire, and by taking part in various funding raising activities, such as the Great North Run and Total Warrior.

Their extensive fundraising led I’Ansons to win one of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance Corporate Supporter Awards in 2018 at the charity’s Annual Recognition Awards and their logo features on both YAA aircraft.

Katie Collinson, Corporate and Partnerships Manager for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: “The support we receive from local businesses are the lifeblood of our charity and we would like to take this opportunity to thank I’Ansons for their continuous support and generosity.

The support they have provided has helped greatly towards the vital funding of our service and will help us continue saving lives across the region, particularly in rural North Yorkshire where journey times to hospital are longer, and our service is so very vital to the farming communities which we serve.”

Chris I’Anson, Managing Director of I’Anson Bros Ltd, said: “We are a rural business based in the heart of the Dales supplying customers across the North of England. These can often be remote areas with testing terrain and difficult access. When accidents happen the speed of getting casualties to hospital can be critical in determining the outcome so the service the YAA provides is vital to the entire rural community. We are delighted to be able to help it to continue to do so.”

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance provides a life-saving rapid response emergency service 365 days a year to 5 million people across 4 million acres of Yorkshire. They need to raise £12,000 a day to keep both of Yorkshire’s air ambulances in the air and maintained.

A motorcyclist from Bedale who sustained serious injuries after colliding with a tractor is set to appear on Helicopter ER.

Steven Caygill was an experienced motorcyclist and he had just saved up to purchase some new protective leathers.

On 6th May 2019 Steven set off for a bike ride when five miles down the road from his home, he collided with a tractor whilst doing 50mph.

“I was out for my first ride of the season. It was a nice morning on the bank holiday and I thought I would just go out for an hour to get used to the bike again after it had been put away for the winter”, said Steven.

He continued: “I set off out of Bedale towards Northallerton and a tractor, with a slurry tanker attached, pulled out of a crossroads in front of me. I tried to take evasive action and swerve to avoid it, but we ended up crashing into each other.”

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance responded to the incident and after assessing Steven, their Critical Care Team suspected a serious pelvic injury. He was flown to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesborough.

Tests revealed that Steven had broken three bones in his left hand, broken two teeth, fractured his ribs and smashed his pelvis. He was in hospital for nine days, had surgery to fix his pelvis and was left temporarily in a wheelchair.

Steven was left unable to work for six months and still endures daily pain. The incident has made him think twice about getting back on a motorbike.

“My wife and daughter came down to see me at the accident and my daughter said to my wife, she didn’t think she would see her dad again, so that will probably deter me from getting another bike”, said Steven.

Speaking of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, he said: “Everybody did a fantastic job and I cannot thank them enough.”

The episode, which airs at 10pm on Channel Really on 13^th July 2020 also features a child knocked down in Wakefield and a trawler incident in Bridlington.

Helicopter ER is made by York-based Air TV who have won five Royal Television Society awards for their work on the compelling series.  You can catch up on any missed episodes for free on D Play: https://www.dplay.co.uk/show/helicopter-er

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) serves 5million people across Yorkshire and carries out over 1,500 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.

A mother from Dishforth, North Yorkshire, has praised the Yorkshire Air Ambulance for saving her seven year old son’s life after a serious cycling incident in May last year.

Seven year old Ronan had just come home from football with his friends and had decided to play on his bike. He grabbed his helmet and set off outside his house when he accidently rode into the path way of an oncoming vehicle. His mum ran out after hearing the impact.

Tina Eyles, Ronan’s mum, said: “I heard this loud bang and I knew instantly it was him. I rushed out and found him lying in a pool of blood. The poor driver of the vehicle was stood there in shock and I thought I had lost Ronan that day.”

Due to the severity of Ronan’s injuries and his remote location, the Yorkshire Air Ambulance were dispatched. After an assessment by their Critical Care Team, a decision was made to fly Ronan to Leeds General Infirmary, 20 miles away.

Tests at the hospital revealed that Ronan had a small bleed on the brain. He spent three nights in hospital and was told he wasn’t able to take part in any sport for six weeks whilst he recovered.

Ronan thankfully made a full recovery and he is now back on his bike, but watching more carefully for the traffic. His mum believes that it was his helmet that saved him from a more serious brain injury.

Speaking of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, Tina said: “I just want to say from the bottom of my heart thank you so much, because they were so brilliant and I honestly think if it wasn’t for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the fact that he was wearing a helmet, he would have been in a different situation.”

The episode, which airs at 10pm on Channel Really on 6^th July 2020 also features a worker crushed in Halifax and a bike crash in the Yorkshire Dales.

Helicopter ER is made by York-based Air TV who have won five Royal Television Society awards for their work on the compelling series.  You can catch up on any missed episodes for free on D Play: https://www.dplay.co.uk/show/helicopter-er

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) serves 5million people across Yorkshire and carries out over 1,500 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.

Over £100,000 has been raised by Ripon Cathedral’s inspiring ‘A Wing and a Prayer’ project – launched in May with the support of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

The money raised will be used to offset the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on fundraising events and visitor donations – sources of income on which the cathedral and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance rely.

‘A Wing and a Prayer’ aims to create an installation of origami angels that fills the nave with prayers for those who have lost their lives to the coronavirus and those in the NHS and other front line services who are risking their own lives for the sake of others. The display will reflect how people from our community have come together during these uncertain times to support one another.

Since the launch of the project the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Ripon Cathedral Development Trust have received generous and continuing support and donations towards the vital work of the air ambulance and the ministry of the cathedral – for the benefit of people and communities across the region; in just under four weeks ‘A Wing and a Prayer’ has raised over £105,000.

The Dean of Ripon, the Very Rev John Dobson DL said: “We have been overwhelmed with the continuous generosity from our community and are excited to reveal our installation when our doors are open to the public.

“Our goal is to fill Ripon Cathedral with origami angels and prayers that offer a spectacular attraction for our community and tourists to visit and reflect upon”.

Helen Callear, Director of Fundraising (North and East) for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: “We would like to thank everyone for their support and generosity at this difficult time and thank Ripon Cathedral for choosing us as their charity partner.  We have been truly overwhelmed by the support the project has received so far, but would like to encourage as many people as possible to become part of such a poignant and moving project.

It costs £12,000 a day to keep both helicopters maintained and in the air and the money raised will help greatly towards the vital funding of our service.”

Donate an Angel here https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/12976

*An online form allows you to request a prayer, which will then be printed onto an origami paper angel. While the angels become part of the installation – the clergy of the cathedral will offer these prayers during services. Printable and downloadable angels allow you to keep your heroes in your hearts at home as well – spread appreciation for all keyworkers by decorating the angels and sharing them on social media and in the windows of your home.

Local life-saving Charity, The Yorkshire Air Ambulance have benefitted from an £8,000 grant from Lions Clubs to help with their fight against Covid-19.

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance provides a life-saving rapid response emergency service 365 days a year to 5 million people across 4 million acres of Yorkshire.

Thanks to an emergency COVID-19 relief grant from the Lions Clubs International Foundation, the Yorkshire Air Ambulance are now able to purchase additional flight suits and a Perspex screen to protect their crew and patients during the pandemic.

Vice District Governor Dave Wilson, Lions Clubs of the North said “We know that air ambulance charities have been busier than ever during the coronavirus pandemic. They’ve faced considerable extra – unbudgeted – day to day costs – at the same time as lockdown has affected fund-raising.

Now, thanks to an emergency COVID-19 relief grant from the Lions Clubs International Foundation in the US, we can provide immediate support for this emergency service that touches lives in all our local communities.”

Helen Callear, Fundraising Director for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: “We would like to extend our thanks to the Lions Clubs for their generous grant of £8,000, which will not only help us continue saving patients’ lives across Yorkshire, but will also help protect our crew.

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance is an independent charity needing to raise £12,000 per day to keep both of Yorkshire’s air ambulances maintained and in the air. The recent pandemic has had a drastic effect on funding for our charity and we are grateful for all the support we have received.”

ENDS

For more information please contact the Yorkshire Air Ambulance PR and Communications Officer Jessica McDonnell on j.mcdonnell@yaa.org.uk or 07384 517193

A cyclist from Southport who came within 1mm of severing his spinal cord after a freak incident at Gisburn Woods is set to appear on Helicopter ER next week.

Dale Newman was cycling with friends at Gisburn Forest, Lancashire when the tyres of his mountain bike skidded on the grass and he plunged into a ditch.

“I don’t remember how I lost control. My friend didn’t see the accident either as he was a good 30 seconds behind me, he just found me lying there”, said Dale.

Dale’s friend Andy attempted to call emergency services, but due to the remote area where Dale had his accident, there was no mobile phone signal. Andy walked Dale to a nearby barn where they found a group of cyclists, including an off duty midwife who looked after Dale whilst Andy went to find signal and guided the medics to their location.

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance was dispatched and after assessing Dale’s serious injuries, they decided to fly him to the nearest major trauma centre at Preston Royal Infirmary.

Tests revealed that Dale had severely fractured his neck (he had split his C1 and C2 and crushed a number of his thoracic vertebrae’s, he had fractured his sternum, collar bone and also bruised his heart. He was 1mm away from severing his spinal cord, which would have left him paralysed.

Dale was in hospital for 11 days and his recovery has been a slow and painful process, but he’s now back at work and now almost fully recovered.

“I’m incredibly lucky that I’m going to make a full recovery, and I’ve taken a decision to use that drive and do everything I can in life now”, he said.

The episode, which airs at 9pm on Channel Really on 8th June 2020, also features a high speed crash that led to a long battle to release a badly injured young driver, and a patient repeatedly punched in the chest after his rare heart condition forces the crew to deliver a bizarre treatment.

Helicopter ER is made by York-based Air Television who have won five Royal Television Society awards for their work on the compelling series.  You can catch up on any missed episodes for free on D Play: https://www.dplay.co.uk/show/helicopter-er

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) serves 5million people across Yorkshire and carries out over 1,500 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.

For more information, please contact the Yorkshire Air Ambulance PR and Communications Officer Jessica McDonnell on j.mcdonnell@yaa.org.uk  or 07384 517193

To celebrate Florence Nightingale’s 200^th birthday, staff at Leeds Bradford Airport set a challenge of completing 200 lengths of their runway to raise funds for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Staff were invited to complete the challenge by running, walking or cycling 2.26km in a non-contact relay, which took place at their homes and surrounding neighborhoods, and for a select few, on the Leeds Bradford runway itself.

By the end of the week, the team completed 2,614km, equating to 1,162 lengths of the runway, and raised an impressive £5,000 for the life-saving charity. A further £5,000 was generously matched by the airport, bringing the total to £10,000.

Joanna Wild, Chief Commercial Officer for Leeds Bradford Airport, said: “Yorkshire Air Ambulance provides an amazing service to those most in need across the region year in, year out. Just like the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, we are committed to our local communities and region and wanted to show our appreciation for the vital work that they do – and what better tribute than on the birthday of one of the world’s best known ever health carers. We’re delighted to support their efforts and would like to thank everybody that donated and took part in the fundraising.”

Vickie Bowden, West Yorkshire Regional Fundraiser for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: We would like to thank staff at Leeds Bradford Airport for their support and generosity, the runway walk is such an innovative fundraising idea.

“Due to the current pandemic, the Yorkshire Air Ambulance has seen a downturn in fundraising events equating to over £420,000. It costs £12,000 a day to keep both of Yorkshire’s Air Ambulance’s maintained and in the air and the £10,000 raised will help greatly towards the vital funding of our service.”

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) serves 5 million people across Yorkshire and carries out over 1,500 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.

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance provides a life-saving rapid response emergency service 365 days a year to five million people across 4 million acres of Yorkshire and helping spread the word about the Charity is an army of dedicated volunteers.

To help celebrate National Volunteer Week, which commences on June 1^st, the Yorkshire Air Ambulance are shining the spotlight on just a few of the many volunteers which help keep the life-saving charity flying across the region.

Former YAA patient Geoff Cook, his wife, Amanda and their daughter A.J, live in Pollington, East Yorkshire and have been volunteering for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance since the summer of 2016.

“Having directly benefited from the Yorkshire Air Ambulance charity, I decided to volunteer after understanding and appreciating what they represent”, said Geoff.

In 2015, Geoff was involved in a serious motorcycle collision in Goole, where his bike was hit by an oncoming car.

“I didn’t think such an accident would ever happen to me since I am advanced trained and always rode a well maintained motorcycle. I was literally broken and twisted in a ditch, with a severe bleed and many horrific injuries”, said Geoff.

The Yorkshire air ambulance arrived on scene with their Critical Care Team and stabilised Geoff before he was then flown to Leeds General Infirmary for treatment. Thanks to the fast response of the charity, he has now made a full recovery.

Geoff began researching about volunteering for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance whilst recovering from his incident and joined the charity in 2016, helping out on stalls and attending charity events.

“At first, all I was thinking about was repaying the money back to the charity for their service, but the more I got involved in volunteering, the more I realised that it’s not just about money, it’s about awareness and spreading the word about the charity”, said Geoff.

Geoff’s wife Amanda also registered as a volunteer after attending a few events with her husband. The pair began dedicating more time to the charity, as well as turning their family camping trips into fundraising opportunities, their daughter also became involved making volunteering a family affair.

“You can do as little or as much volunteering as you like and it can be very flexible, which really helps when you have a family”, said Geoff.

Speaking of what volunteering for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance means to him, Geoff, said: “There seems to be a genuine admiration back to volunteers from the crew. They do all the work on the frontline, but they really appreciate everything the volunteers do

“The Yorkshire Air Ambulance is YOUR Air Ambulance.  It is there to help the people of Yorkshire in their hour of need.  It only exists because of the incredible generosity of the very people that it serves”, said Geoff.

To find out about volunteering opportunities for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, please click here.