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A North Yorkshire teenager who broke her back in a head-on car crash has raised over £2,000 to say thank-you to the air ambulance crew that rescued her.

Natasha Sedgwick was driving to Richmond Six Form College on a summer morning last July when a Mercedes van came round a blind corner on the wrong side of the road and hit her car head-on.

“The car was pushed up onto a high verge and then bounced back so I was jolted around a lot,” said Natasha of Street Lane, Pickhill. “I knew it was bad because I was in a lot of pain.

“I saw smoke coming from the front of the car and wanted to get out but I couldn’t and had to be cut out by firemen – I just remember being surrounded by lots of firemen.”

Natasha, 18, was flown by Yorkshire Air Ambulance to the James Cook Memorial Hospital, Middlesbrough, where she was found to have broken her back and four ribs.

“The crew were just fabulous, kept me smiling and I couldn’t believe how quick the flight was,” she added. “My Mum and sister drove to the hospital and said how strange it was to see the air ambulance fly past knowing I was in it.

“I got the chance to go to the air ambulance base and meet the crew to say thank you and they thought I would be arriving in a wheelchair, which made me realise how fortunate I’ve been.”

To say thank-you to the helicopter heroes, Natasha swam 100 lengths of Bedale Swimming Pool in a remarkable sponsored challenge that has so raised over £2,000 for the rapid response emergency charity.

Natasha, who used to be a keen basketball player, went through months of treatment and physiotherapy and had to wear a backboard everyday for six months.

But showing great determination, she returned to College to complete her A levels and has just started work as a receptionist with an architectural practice.

This has forced Natasha to get behind wheel of a car again: “That has been the hardest thing, it was like learning to drive all over again,” she added.

“It’s been a really tough year and I was quite down at times but my Mum and family have been great and I’ve learnt to be positive and the accident has really changed my attitude to life.”

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) has carried more than 5,800 people in its 14-year history and has to raise £9,990 every day – that’s £3.6 million a year – to keep the life-saving service going.

Without any direct government funding, the only help the charity receives is through the secondment of its paramedics from the Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

On behalf of the Old Brodleians rugby club and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance we would like to invite you to a fundraising event that is taking place here at Woodhead Park.

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance helicopter will be landing at the Brods at noon on Saturday 8th November – ahead of the 1st team cup match against Bradford Salem.

It promises to be a unique day at the club as members, friends and those from the local community are invited to meet the pilots and see the famous yellow helicopter up close.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance is the Brods official charity partner for two years and during that time the club has supported the charity’s awareness drive and pledged to raise an ambitious fundraising total of over £9990. As a result, we’ve place their logo on the first team kit, on boards around the main pitch and have so far raised over £4000 from events such as the annual Golf Day, charity matches and the Great Glen Challenge in which a number of our senior players took part last July.

The target of £9990 was chosen as that is the daily cost that must be found to keep their essential service operational.

So 'save the date' to meet the pilots, get your photo with the helicopter and throw any loose change into their buckets!

The first team cup fixture against Bradford Salem will kick off shortly after at 2.15pm and the usual gate charges will be suspended for the day. The gate will still be manned as usual in the hope that people will donate the normal entry fee to Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Two leading charities in the region have received a cash boost thanks to the pedal power of a national property consultancy.

Teams from the Carter Jonas Yorkshire offices at Harrogate, Leeds, York and Boroughbridge were among 300 riders who took part in the Yorkshire Post-backed Yorkshire Pedalthon, raising £9,500 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance – enough to keep the helicopter in the air for a day and potentially saving up to three lives. The Pedalthon also raised £4,500 for sustainable transport charity Sustrans.

David Boulton and David Aspland, both partners at Carter Jonas helped plan the event, with David Boulton completing the 80 mile Yorkshire Challenge, the gruelling alternative to the 40-mile Scenic Route. Paul Berwin, senior partner at Berwins Solicitors in Harrogate – the event’s main sponsor – also completed the 80 mile course with some of his team.

Paul Berwin said: “Despite the unrelenting rain, it was a fantastic day, bringing together business colleagues from throughout the country. We’re delighted to have played our part in supporting two such deserving charities.”

Carter Jonas plans to make the Pedalthon a regular event in the region and the 2015 ride is already scheduled for May 8. It will raise funds for Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Land Aid as a legacy event of the Grand Depart.

Says David Boulton: “There will be new routes, including a long ride of about 70 miles and a shorter ride of about 40 miles. Routes will be confirmed and registration will open in November and we are aiming to attract 450-500 riders.

“Iconic Cycling Events will be organising the 2015 challenge on our behalf and we are inviting firms to join Carter Jonas as partners and sponsors to maximise the benefit of their involvement.”

This year’s event was sponsored by Yorkshire-based Berwins Solicitors, chartered building surveyors Crowther Turnbull Booth and wind turbine specialists Earthmill. Supporters included the Yorkshire Post, Welcome to Yorkshire, Ripley Castle, Black Sheep Brewery, Heck Food, Yorkshire Provender, Brymor Ice Cream and Exquisite Handmade Cakes, English Heritage, Cycle Sense, CoStar Group and Ripon Land Rover.

For further details visit www.yorkshirepedalthon.co.uk  

Yorkshire Air Ambulance is flying high after backing a winner at last month’s showcase Leger Festival at Doncaster Racecourse.

The rapid response emergency charity collected over £10,800 from ticket sales, a bucket collection, auction and raffle prizes on the Friday of the four-day meeting.

Katie Collinson, Partnerships Manager at the Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA), said:

“We cannot thank Doncaster Racecourse enough for the tremendous support they have given us.

“It’s a fantastic day in the charity marquee and over the last four years of our partnership we have raised around £48,000 which represents a really valuable income stream for the charity.

“The Leger is not only a highlight in South Yorkshire’s social calendar, it’s a firm date in our annual calendar and we are always looking to welcome new faces to the Charity marquee.”

The YAA has carried more than 5,700 people in its 14-year history. The charity has to raise £9,990 every day to keep its two helicopters flying – equivalent to £3.6 million a year.

Without any direct government funding, the only help the charity receives is through the secondment of its paramedics from the Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

Mark Edwards, Racing Sales Coordinator Doncaster Racecourse, said: “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work closely with Yorkshire Air Ambulance; to help raise funds which are vital to the running of this life saving emergency service.

“By associating the Yorkshire Air Ambulance with our prestigious St Leger Festival, we are able to raise awareness for the worthy cause and we are looking forward to supporting them again in 2015”

Yorkshire Air Ambulance is appealing for more volunteers in the Todmorden area to help them raise more awareness and funds.

The distinctive yellow helicopter is an increasingly regular feature in the local skies. Last year 14 people living in or visiting the Todmorden area were flown to hospital by the emergency rapid response charity.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) West Yorkshire Regional Fundraiser Kerry Garner said: "We are attending an increasing number of incidents in the Calder Valley area and volunteers play a pivotal role in raising awareness and making it as easy as possible for people who want to support us.

"It’s important that we’re out more in local communities making sure we have a presence at local events, telling people what we do, and why their support is so vital.”

The emergency rapid response charity – which has to raise £9,990 every day to keep its two helicopters flying – is looking for volunteers to help in a variety of ways – from running stalls and attending events to giving talks and collecting tins.

Janet Wright, from Todmorden, has supported the YAA for many years and became a registered volunteer for the charity three years ago.

“Local people really appreciate having the Yorkshire Air Ambulance as the nearest hospitals are over 20 miles away by road,” said Janet, 61, from Woodfield Street.

"The speed that the helicopter can reach people and then take them to the best hospital for their injury or illness is just fantastic.

“I know some people say the Government should pay for the service but this is such a brilliant local charity.”

Janet previously supported the YAA by selling charity merchandise in her Todmorden café. Now retired she has more time to help and added: “Volunteering is very rewarding and you get to meet some lovely people. You can do as much or as little as you want and your efforts are really appreciated.”

The charity is looking for individuals, couples or small groups of friends to become community event fundraisers, running stalls at local events.

There is also a need for public speakers to give talks to local groups, schools, clubs and organisations as well as volunteers to accept donations on behalf of the YAA and make a small speech when required.

You could also help the charity by doing supermarket collections and bag packing or managing collection tins and information points in your area.

A full introduction is given to any new volunteers as well as training. If you would like to find out more about volunteering contact Lisa Blezard by email l.blezard@yaa.org.uk or by calling Lisa on 07876 899 097.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance has carried more than 5,700 people in its 14-year history. The charity needs to raise £9,990 a day to keep its two helicopters in the air – equivalent to £3.6 million each year.

Without any direct government funding, the only help the charity receives is through the secondment of its paramedics from the Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

Picture caption: Yorkshire Air Ambulance volunteer Janet Wright (right) manning the charity’s stall at Hebden Bridge vintage car weekend.

Join in with the Grand Depart celebrations and support the Yorkshire Air Ambulance by wearing Yellow on Thursday 3rd July & donate £1!

Working in partnership with the Yorkshire Post, Yorkshire Evening Post and other Johnston Press publications across the region, we’re looking for businesses, groups, organisations and schools to get involved with our #yellowyorkshire campaign!

Wear something Yellow or organise a Yellow fundraising event in your workplace or organisation and share your pictures with us via Facebook, Twitter & Instagram and #yellowyorkshire.

We will be sharing these pictures with the Yorkshire Evening Post who will be adding as many of the pictures as possible to their website.

It’s not too late to get involved! If you would like to join us please email o.lees@yaa.org.uk with details of your event or just send in your pictures from the day. We also have balloons & posters available to help decorate your workplace and turn Yorkshire Yellow!

We would be grateful if you could donate funds raised online here:

https://www.justgiving.com/yellowyorkshire/

and leave a message with details of how it was raised and the name of your organisation.

Alternative ways to donate:

Cheques made payable to ‘Yorkshire Air Ambulance’ can be sent to ‘Cayley House, 10 South Lane, Elland, West Yorkshire, HX5 0HQ’ (Please make a note on the back of the cheque that this is in conjunction with the Yellow Yorkshire campaign with full details of your organisation – Name & Address so we can send a thank you letter!)

Telephone: You can also ring the charity office and make a payment over the telephone via visa debit/credit card. T: 01422 237900.

Napoleons Casino & Restaurant in Leeds has presented the Yorkshire Air Ambulance with a cheque for £4,100 follow a spree of fundraising & a charity Cyclathon which took place on the same day the Tour de France went through Leeds.

Exercise bikes were kindly supplied by Xercise4Less on Kirkstall Road, Leeds & Napoleons' staff & customers all signed up to take slots on the bikes. The day was topped off by a fundraising dinner in Napoleons’ restaurant which helped push the grand total to over £4,000!
General Manager at Napoleons, Sandy Kopec, commented:

“We’d set out to get in the spirit of the Tour de France whilst raising some money in the process so we are thrilled to have raised such a fantastic amount for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. A big thank you goes to all our staff & customers who fundraised & donated so generously.

“As our charity of the year we are all well-educated on the vital services the Yorkshire Air Ambulance provides to our region and coincidentally, this was highlighted on the weekend of the Tour de France when they attended 31 incidents over the three days, compared to a usual three or four incidents on a regular weekend.”

Nicky Massen, Regional Fundraising Manager for the YAA, commented: “We are so grateful to all the Napoleons' staff & customers who helped raise such a fantastic amount and for supporting us once again. We don’t receive any funding and rely entirely on donations – so we can’t thank Napoleons enough.

“This is the second large contribution Napoleons Leeds have made, bringing their grand total to well over £7,000. The vital funds will go towards maintaining and flying the two Yorkshire Air Ambulance helicopters 365 days a year, helping save lives across Yorkshire.”

We are obviously very disappointed to have learned this news, however we are taking comfort in the fact that 130 fantastic episodes have aired over the last 7 years, giving our amazing supporters an insight to the work we do each and every day, as well as opening up the world of the Air Ambulance industry to viewers.

The BBC team who have flown with us over the years have been a fantastic bunch, becoming very much part of our team and we will miss them dearly. We wish them the best of luck in their future endeavours.

However, we’re sure that you haven’t seen the last of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance on your television screen’s just yet. Helicopter Heroes programmes are repeated on various channels most days including Dave and Really, and periodically on BBC 1 and 2 so keep a look out!

Plus there might be other things in the pipeline so watch this space…… 

Staff at a Sheffield-based healthcare firm have beaten their own charitable Tour de France target – by miles!

B. Braun Medical Ltd’s Corporate Challenge for 2014 saw employees take on ‘Le Tour de B. Braun’ – a 950-mile ‘virtual’ bike ride to raise money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) held to coincide with the prestigious ‘Le Grand Depart’ event.

During the three-week period of the international Tour de France, staff pledged to cycle a chosen distance on a static bicycle to make up part of the route across B. Braun UK locations, taking in Sterilog and Avitum UK sites including Pudsey, Gloucester and Cardiff.

But after staff got into the cycling spirit, they ended up taking the challenge up a gear by clocking up more than 1400 miles.

The Braun team also raised £4000 for YAA after work experience student Aleem Zaman cycled for an hour and raised sponsorship of £560 from his family, friends, school and neighbours – the most an individual raised throughout the ‘tour’. The 14-year-old was presented with a trophy in recognition of his outstanding feat.

Group Chief Executive of B. Braun Medical Ltd, Hans Hux, said: “Employees of all fitness levels were able to get involved in this event and I am so impressed with the team – they smashed their target several days before the end of the challenge.

“Aleem was the last rider to take to the saddle and it is very fitting indeed he brought the challenge to such an exciting close by raising so much money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance – a much-valued rescue and emergency regional resource of which B. Braun is a long-term supporter.”

Abby McClymont, YAA Marketing and Communications Manager, added: “We are delighted the ‘Tour de B Braun’ has been such a success and would like to sincerely thank all the B Braun staff that took part in the challenge.

“A special thank you and well done should also be given to Aleem for his sterling efforts with his fundraising. B. Braun Medical Ltd are our longest standing corporate supporter and they continue to overwhelm us with their fundraising efforts.”

Based in Chapeltown, Sheffield, B. Braun Medical Ltd is a member of the B. Braun Group, one of the world’s leading healthcare companies.

The healthcare firm is currently celebrating its 175th anniversary with a fundraising appeal for YAA. The 175 Campaign encourages people across the region to donate a minimum of £1.75 each between July and December to support the work of the YAA.

A music concert held by officers from South Yorkshire Police has raised £1000 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance charity.

The concert, held at Hall Cross Academy in Doncaster in May, featured the South Yorkshire Police Male Voice Choir and Band.

At a presentation dinner in Doncaster on Wednesday 16 July, Chief Constable David Crompton presented David Townend, a volunteer representative from the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, a cheque for the money raised.

Chief Constable David Crompton of South Yorkshire Police / Malcolm Briggs, secretary of the choir, said: “We were delighted to take part in this concert and raise money for such a worthy cause.

“Police officers regularly work alongside the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, which provides vital support and assistance to emergency services across the region.”

Mark Perry, South Yorkshire Fundraiser for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance added: “We would like to extend our thanks to South Yorkshire Police for their generosity in donating the monies from their concert to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. As an independent Charity, we need to raise £9,990 each day and without the help of individuals and groups such as these guys we wouldn’t be able to do what we do.”