To celebrate Florence Nightingale’s 200th 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.
