General

“The Charity have been absolutely overwhelmed by the expressions of support since the incident in Shipley on Thursday evening.

As well as being inundated with messages of support, we have received many donations to contribute towards funding the replacement of the damaged helmet.  These also include some pledges to fund the full replacement cost of the helmet, as well as a generous offer from a supplier to replace the helmet for us.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has made a donation and offered their support.  Any monies donated to the YAA will contribute towards the £12,000 we need to raise every day to keep our helicopters in the air and helping to save lives across Yorkshire.

We genuinely are blessed to have the most kind and generous supporters – thank you all from the bottom of our hearts.”

Abby Barmby, Director of Marketing & Communications

Abby Barmby, Director of Marketing & Communications:

“We were appalled to hear that one of our valuable flight helmets was stolen from the back of our helicopter whilst our crew were responding to an emergency 999 call last night in Shipley.

We understand that a group of youths were involved, and cannot comprehend why they felt it necessary to take such a vital piece of our equipment.

Our flight helmets are specialist and vital pieces of equipment all our crews wear in flight.  Not only are they worn for protection and safety purposes, they are also worn so the crews can communicate with each other in flight.  Each helmet is bespoke to our crew members and cost in the region of £2,700.

Unfortunately it looks like there has been too much damage done to this helmet and it will now need replacing.  As an independent Charity who relies on charitable donations to help fund our vital work, having to replace costly items of equipment that have been unnecessarily damaged for no justifiable reason is extremely disheartening.

We would however like to thank the kind people in Shipley that managed to locate the helmet and return it to the crew, and also to West Yorkshire Police who have been of great assistance.”

Jean Dixon, 83, has been running businesses from Scarborough market for over 57 years and in 2004, shortly after her retirement, she decided to take on an empty stall and raise money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance as a volunteer.  She started off in the original market hall with one small stall, and over the years expanded to being a considerable part of the old market hall.  Then after the market hall refurbishment in 2017, Jean and her team relocated downstairs to the market vaults where they’ve been since.

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance shop now consists of two ground floor vaults on the lower ground of Scarborough market, with a dedicated clothing shop selling high-quality fashion donated by dress agencies. Over the last 13 years with help from her dedicated volunteer team through attending various other events, as well as being a public speaker for the Charity, Jean has now raised over £750,000 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Speaking of her fundraising achievement, Jean said: “When I first joined the Yorkshire Air Ambulance as a volunteer, I set out to raise £1 million and I’m so pleased to have reached the three quarters of a million pound mark.

Over the years I have met some fantastic people and I wouldn’t have been able to reach this milestone without their support.”

Speaking of her fundraising goals for the future, Jean said: “I think that it would take me another four years to achieve my dream total of £1 million and I’m going to try my best to get there.”

Bob Smailes, Yorkshire Air Ambulance Regional Fundraising Manager for North East Yorkshire, said: “We would like to say a huge thank you and congratulate Jean and the volunteers at Scarborough Market for raising an impressive £750,000 for the YAA.

Jean Dixon is one of our longest and most valued volunteers and she is a firm part of the YAA family. We are very proud of her fundraising efforts and we’re proud to have her as part of our team.”

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance shop at Scarborough Market Vaults is open 6 days a week between 9.30am and 4.30pm.  Jean and her team are always looking forward to meeting new supporters when they visit.  If anyone has any donations of items for the YAA shop, please contact the team here: https://www.facebook.com/pg/vaultsyaapage

A helicopter enthusiast from Bradford, has had one of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance helicopters tattooed on her back to help raise vital funds for the Charity, and keep the memory of her late father alive.

Ann Watts, 46 from Bradford said: “I love the air ambulance and love I helicopters and I wanted to do something unique to help get donations. Having this tattoo will not only help a worthy cause, but also keep my dad’s memory alive”, said Ann.

Ann’s father was a keen motorcyclist and enjoyed watching helicopters fly over one of the former Yorkshire Air Ambulance airbases, at Leeds Bradford Airport. To celebrate his love of aviation, the family had booked a trip for him to go in a helicopter for his 60^th birthday. However, he sadly passed away before his lifelong dream was fulfilled.

Ann decided to get the tattoo to remind her of the times she spent watching helicopters with her dad, and also to keep raising money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance in his memory.

Tong Tattoos did the tattoo free of charge, providing donations went towards the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. The tattoo was completed on Thursday 20^th June and Ann has already raised £80 for the Charity.

Ann said: “I feel like one of my dreams has come true and I am proud to be wearing the Yorkshire Air Ambulance on my back. I love showing off my new tattoo and the pain was worth it. I would like to thank Tong Tattoos for their support.”

Angela Vyas, West Yorkshire Community Fundraiser, said: “We admire Anne’s dedication to the charity and her brave decision to have one of our helicopters tattooed on her back – the finished tattoo looks incredible. The money raised will help us greatly towards the vital funding of our service.”

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. It costs £12,000 a day to keep the helicopters maintained and in the air.

For more information about Ann’s tattoo and to donate to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ann-elizabeth-watts

Yorkshire cricket legend and Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) Patron Geoffrey Boycott OBE, has put his name to a new beer brewed by Leeds Brewery to mark this summer’s Cricket World Cup, and to raise vital funds for the much loved rapid-response Charity.

The 3.6% pale ale, available in casks and bottles, has been created by Leeds Brewery and is brewed using some of the finest ingredients Yorkshire has to offer.  Available for sale now, 25p from every bottle and 25p from every pint sold will be donated to the YAA.

Mr Boycott commented: “The Brewery approached me and asked if I’d be interested in creating a new ale with them for the Cricket World Cup.  I’ve never put my name to anything like this before in all my career, so I said that I’d want them to support the Yorkshire Air Ambulance with proceeds from any sales.  I’m a Patron of the Charity and very proud to support them by helping raise as much money as I can.

I’m absolutely delighted with the results – although I’m not a big beer drinker, I’ve sampled it and it was lovely, very easy to drink!  And the packaging is fantastic, capturing me at my finest and doing what I love.  I hope everyone will get behind the beer and buy it to help us raise lots of money.”

Rob Warriner, Head Brewer from Leeds Brewery explained a little more about the beer: “We wanted to create a refreshing and well balanced session ale using the finest ingredients from Yorkshire, and we’re delighted with the results.  The beer is easy drinking & very pleasant on the palette.  We hope people will enjoy drinking it as much as we’ve enjoyed creating it.”

To support the launch of the beer, an advertising campaign will hit some of the big screens in Leeds over the next few weeks to promote the beer and the partnership.  The ‘Enjoyed slowly, very slowly’ campaign, will be seen on screens in the Trinity Shopping Centre and at other locations in the City.  The concept has been devised by London based creative agency Heavenly Group, with support from Ocean Outdoor who have all given their time and advertising space free of charge,

Initially available for the summer, the culmination of the sales of Boycott’s Best will see a live event at Weetwood Hotel, Leeds on Thursday 24^th October where Geoffrey will host an event including a dinner following by a live Q&A session with him, detailing his career and experiences.

Abby Barmby, Director of Marketing & Communications added: “We’re delighted to be involved with both Geoffrey and Leeds Brewery regarding Boycotts Best – we are grateful to all involved for their generosity towards the YAA.  As an independent Charity, we have to raise £12,000 per day to keep both of our helicopters in the air and helping to save lives.  We rely on the generosity of the people of Yorkshire, like Geoffrey and Leeds Brewery to help us raise these vital monies.  We would love to see the beer in as many outlets as possible!”

Boycott’s Best is available to buy both wholesale and by the general public.  All enquiries about stocking the beer, or the event at Weetwood Hall in October should be directed to rob@leedsbrewery.co.uk

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 fly 7 days per week, 365 days per week covering the region with two state-of-the-art Airbus H145 helicopters.

Leeds Brewery was established in June 2007 and has since become the largest brewery in the city.  They use only the finest possible ingredients, including malted barley sourced entirely from the UK and their unique Yorkshire yeast, meaning their beers are some of the finest available.  Today the brewery produces over 125,000 pints a week with a beer range which encompasses a vast array of styles and flavours which are available in cask, keg and bottles all across the country.

We are happy to announce that the Yorkshire Air Ambulance has partnered up with Jane Tomlinson’s Run for All to become one of their official charities for the 2019 and 2020 York 10K.

This year’s York 10K takes place on August 4^th and the event gives racegoers the chance to run through the heart of the medieval city, passing by iconic landmarks such as the Clifford’s Tour and York Minister.

Ticket holders must be aged 15 or over and if you sign up to the York 10K via our website shop, you will receive discounted tickets and a free official Yorkshire Air Ambulance t-shirt.

For more information about the event please visit: https://www.runforall.com/events/10k/york-10k/race-information/ or contact YAA Corporate and Partnerships Manager Katie Collinson on k.collinson@yaa.org.uk

The Masham based  I’Ansons have set their sights on new fundraising challenge for Yorkshire Air Ambulance, by taking part in this year’s Total Warrior.

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.

Over the last three years, the I’Ansons have pledged £60,000 from their energy savings 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.

Their extensive fundraising has led the I’Ansons to win one of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance Corporate Supporter Awards last October at the annual Yorkshire Air Ambulance Recognition Awards.

Now 21 I’Anson employees have pledged to take part in the 6K Total Warrior obstacle course at Bramham Park on the 22^nd June in Leeds and they have already raised over £400.

Local coach company, Atkinsons of Ripon, have also given their support to the I’Ansons by offering to drive them to and from Bramham Park to help limit travel expenses and ensure as much money as possible goes to the charity.

Ged Hall & Hannah Bowe, I’Anson employees and organisers of the I’Ansons Total Warrior challenge, said: “The Yorkshire Air Ambulance is highly important in the rural areas of North Yorkshire, in particular Masham which is steeped in agriculture and that not easy to access. We’re hoping to raise as much money as we can through this year’s Total Warrior. “

Helen Callear, Yorkshire Air Ambulance Director of Fundraising North and East, said: “We are proud to work with I’Ansons and cannot thank them enough for their continued support and generosity over the last few years.

The money they have raised has helped tremendously towards the vital funding of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and helped us to continue saving more lives across Yorkshire.”

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.

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.

In 2014, John Mitchell from Pateley Bridge, North Yorkshire was crushed by a five and a half tonne machine at work. The Yorkshire Air Ambulance were dispatched and he was flown to Leeds General Infirmary.

“I was crushed by a machine and in hospital within the hour with a broken pelvis, which could have been life-threatening. They saved my life thanks to their fast response and my treatment starting so quickly, which enables them to get to any hospital in Yorkshire within 20 minutes”, said John.

When his wife Sue saw an advertisement looking for volunteers for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance at a hotel in Ripon following the incident, the pair decided it was time to give back to the charity that helped saved John’s life.

“They helped me so I’m helping them back- I could never thank them enough for what they did”, said John.

John and Sue have now been volunteering for the charity for the last three years, helping out on fundraising stalls and at events.

When asked what he enjoys the most about volunteering for the YAA, John said: “I love the helicopter landings when they come to some events.  It’s really emotional when I see them landing, but it’s all good fun and makes me very proud. I love the team and the whole thing is so rewarding, it’s really great.”

Yorkshire Air Ambulance Registered Volunteers give much needed additional support to the charity by promoting closer working relationships within local communities, increasing fundraising opportunities, developing new initiatives and also providing valuable skills and experience.

To anyone thinking of volunteering for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, John said: “The Yorkshire Air Ambulance is such a well-supported charity and it is good fun just to help out, we need as many bodies as we can, so just do it, it’s great.”

There are many ways in which you can donate to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, whether you donate directly or through a third party website such as Just Giving, Virgin Money or Facebook Fundraising.

One of the newest and most innovative ways you can donate to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance is through Greenfinch, an online investments platform, which doesn’t cost you a penny.

The Greenfinch ‘You Give We Give’ scheme enables you to invest part of the interest from your investment savings to a charity of your choice.

Let’s say you have a portfolio valued at £20,000 on the first day of 2019. By New Year’s Eve 2019, this value has risen by 5% to £21,000.*

Because you’ve decided to donate 10% of your gain to Yorkshire Air Ambulance, the charity receives a gift of £100, along with 10% of TAM Asset Management’s annual fee. You’ve made money, Yorkshire Air Ambulance has received a sizable donation, and everyone wins.

At any time, you can change your charity of choice and your donation amount. This gives you superior control and flexibility over your giving – without requiring direct involvement from you (unless you’re feeling particularly hands-on). TAM Asset Management will break down the precise structure of payments in a letter every year. If you choose to provide your details, Yorkshire Air Ambulance will also be able to claim Gift Aid, increasing the amount it receives even more.

Huddersfield facilities management company Orchard FM will be supporting Pedal for Pounds 10 both at home and away with a week-long office pedalthon running alongside the official European charity bike ride.

Local businesses are being invited to take their turn on the exercise bikes at Orchard’s Independence House offices between Monday 29^th April and Friday 3^rd May to help boost the Pedal for Pounds fundraising for Yorkshire Air Ambulance, Huddersfield Town Foundation, Kirkwood Hospice and Ruddi’s Retreat.

The pedalthon will be launched on Monday morning by Orchard FM colleagues and Pedal for Pounds team mates Gareth Henderson, Justin Holley and Jason Taylor before they set sail for Zeebrugge from Hull with the rest of this year’s P4P10 cyclists.

As they tackle the 313-mile route from Belgium, travelling through Bruges, Antwerp, Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam their colleagues, clients and fellow businesses will be pedalling for extra pounds back in Huddersfield.

Gareth said: “This is my seventh Pedal for Pounds and the thing that motivates me most is the fact that we are local people with a common goal to support fantastic charities at the heart of our community.

“This year we wanted to do something to involve as many people as possible so that we can all do our bit to support P4P10.

“The money raised over the years has made a significant impact on the work of Yorkshire Air Ambulance, Huddersfield Town Foundation and other local charities and we hope as many people as possible will come along to join in the fun at Independence House. Everyone is welcome,” he added.

Nick Porthouse, an Engagement Manager at global software consultancy Equal Experts, is joining forces with some of his colleagues to cycle 220 miles from their London office to their Leeds office on 25^th and 26^th May to raise £12,000 – enough money to fund Yorkshire Air Ambulance for a day.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance came to the rescue of Nick’s stepson Tim Hoskin, 29, after he was involved in a motorcycle accident on the 30^th March 2018 in Pateley Bridge.

Tim was flown to Leeds General Infirmary by the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, where it was discovered that he had suffered damage to his liver and kidneys, his lungs were crushed and he had several broken bones including his foot, ribs, thigh bone, pelvis and shoulder. He also suffered from concussion. Doctors prepared his family for the worst, but luckily Tim made a miraculous recovery. While he is still recuperating a year on from his accident, he can now walk unaided and has no lasting cognitive damage.

At Equal Experts, Nick and his colleagues are used to challenging themselves to solve complex business problems. So when Nick suggested embarking on a gruelling 220-mile bike ride to test his stamina and raise money for the charity that saved his stepson’s life, 15 of his work colleagues from all round the UK jumped at the chance to join him and help.

Speaking of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, Nick said: “Everybody knows what the Yorkshire Air Ambulance does, but not everyone knows that it is a charity. Tim wouldn’t be alive without it and other people I know have benefitted from its help. It’s an important service for the whole of Yorkshire and one that we should all support.”

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance is an independent charity which provides life-saving rapid response emergency service 365 days a year to 5 million people across 4 million acres of Yorkshire. It costs £12,000 per day to keep both of Yorkshire’s air ambulances in the air and maintained. This is equivalent to £4.4 million each year.

To follow the team’s journey and make a donation, please visit: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/EqualExperts

We are happy to announce that the Yorkshire Air Ambulance has partnered up with Total Warrior to become one of their official charities for 2019.

Total Warrior takes place on 21^st, 22^nd and 23^rd June at Bramham Park, Leeds. Whether you’re competing solo, with friends or as a family or part of a corporate team, there’s courses tailored to suit all different abilities and needs, so that everyone can join in the fun.

If you sign up to Total Warrior via our website, you will receive discounted tickets and a free official Yorkshire Air Ambulance t-shirt.

Full Warrior course

This 12K course gives you the full Warrior experience and is packed with thrilling obstacles such as the ‘Human BBQ’, the ‘Plunge’ and the ‘Shocker’.

Half warrior course

The Half Total Warrior course is 6KM full of world class obstacles. The Total Warrior Half is not timed and is great for a group of friends looking for a unique experience that they will never forget.

Junior Warrior course

Junior Warrior returns across the weekend on an extended 3K course, packed with obstacles to challenge the whole family. Suitable for big and little kids aged 6 and over, they will be sure to have a blast. For the first time, adults are welcome to take on the course – including most obstacles – with their young ones.

For more information about Total Warrior to discuss corporate tickets, please contact our Corporate and Partnerships Manager, Katie Collinson on k.collinson@yaa.org.uk