Here’s a look at some of the wonderful things our fundraising heroes have been up to… 

Jasmine’s jars 

A very special shoutout goes to young supporter Jasmine, who has been collecting loose change for us since the beginning of June. 

Bringing in over 30 jam jars filled with 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p and £1 coins, Jasmine has already raised more than £60. 

Every penny really does make a difference. Thank you, Jasmine, for your incredible dedication! 

51 years of friendship 

We were honoured to attend a cheque presentation at the Cleveland Retired Men’s Association (CRMA), as the association comes to an end after 51 incredible years. 

The association kindly chose to support our charity and presented us with a fantastic donation of £593.09 before inviting us to stay for tea and lunch.  

Peaks and perseverance 

Congratulations to four determined supporters who completed the National Three Peaks Challenge, in aid of our charity, in 21 hours! 

During their visit to our airbase for a cheque presentation, they were treated to an unforgettable moment when one of our helicopters was called to an incident on the Isle of Man.  

Seeing the aircraft lift off to help someone in need brought home exactly why their fundraising matters. 

Colours for a cause 

Pupils at Mayfield School in Whitehaven certainly brightened June with their Cosmic Colour Run. 

The colourful event raised an incredible £3,296, and it was a pleasure to visit the school this month for an assembly and cheque presentation to thank everyone involved.  

What an amazing effort by the pupils, staff and families! 

History, connections and community 

Our Community Fundraiser Deborah enjoyed spending an evening with Workington History Society, where the group donated £300, with a further £90 collected on the night. 

It proved to be a small world too. One attendee was the foster brother of Grahame Pickering, who founded our charity in 1991.  

Another attendee had recently experienced first-hand the importance of our service too, after we attended an incident involving her 91-year-old father. 

Our service really does touch so many lives.  

Young supporters 

Big cheer for the Rota Kids from Wreay C of E Primary School, who presented Miles with a cheque for £247.25. 

The fantastic sum was raised through a cake sale and games day organised by the children back in March. Most of the school’s 80 pupils attended and enjoyed the event, with the Rota Kids making sure everyone left with a GNAAS sticker and a better understanding of how the funds they raised would help support the charity. 

200 miles for a life-saving cause 

What a brilliant evening we had with the lovely team behind the Tebay Charity Ride 2026! 

The group cycled over 200 miles across Cumbria in just two days, raising an incredible £7,509.48 – all powered by friendship and determination. 

They certainly earned their helicopter tour and chat with the crew afterwards! 

Raising the bar 

The legendary pALEgrimage group continue to amaze us. 

Their latest fundraising efforts have raised an astonishing £25,626.62, taking their incredible lifetime fundraising total to almost £120,000. 

It was a pleasure welcoming them back for another cheque presentation, where the crew – especially Dr Will – made sure they had a memorable visit. 

Coffee and knitting 

A huge thank you to Bernadette Glasper and everyone involved in raising £850 through coffee mornings and knitting. 

These simple acts of kindness continue to have a life-saving impact for patients across our region. 

A community coming together 

Our Community Fundraiser Amanda spent the afternoon at a fantastic Community Fun Day in Barrasford at their Village Hall. 

Relatives and friends of John, who unfortunately was in an incident last year who we went to, are taking part in the Great North Run this year in his memory. And, as part of their fundraising, they arranged this event. 

The day was packed with colour runs, dog shows, games, tombolas, raffles, food stalls and much more, and had an amazing turnout. 

Support flooded in throughout the day, including a donation of more than £7,000 from a division of NFU. By the time the event finished, the fundraising total had reached an incredible £14,000. 

What an amazing example of a community rallying together. 

Tweet success 

A big thank you to everyone at Tweet Tweet Bird Auction in Wigton, who raised a fantastic £500 for our charity.  

Our Community Fundraiser Deborah recently visited the group for a cheque presentation and to personally thank them for their generosity and support. 

Every fundraiser helps ensure our crews can continue bringing life-saving care to those who need it most. 

A lasting legacy 

Our Community Fundraiser Amanda recently met with Derek Hutcherson, from Torquay, who was in Newcastle for a performance The Cramlington Train Wreckers, at the Theatre Royal. The play marked the centenary of the General Strike and the derailment of the Flying Scotsman.  

Derek’s late wife, Margaret, wrote a book “Let No Wheels Turn” about the 1926 wrecking of the Flying Scotsman, and he wanted the proceeds from Margaret’s book sales to benefit a North East charity. 

He chose the Great North Air Ambulance service, donating £500 towards our Operation SOS appeal. Thank you, Derek, for helping Margaret’s legacy continue to make a difference. 

Wonderful WI 

Emily met with the ladies of WI Dalton-le-Dale cheque presentation this month.  

We’d like to say heartfelt thank you to the group, who raised £617.46 for our charity, alongside generous donations of clothing. 

We truly appreciate your continued support! 

Cheers from the Isle of Man 

Brian, one of our volunteers on the Isle of Man, attended a cheque presentation with CAMRA Isle of Man following their annual Beer and Cider Festival. 

Thie year marked their 13th Beer and Cider Festival, and they raised an incredible £1,274.82 for our service. 

Thank you to everyone involved for supporting our charity and helping to keep our crews responding across the region. 

Long-standing support 

Plantsplus Garden Centre continues to be one of our wonderful long-term supporters. 

Having chosen us as their Charity of the Year for several years, they once again gone above and beyond, presenting us with an amazing total of £11,995.99. 

We’re so grateful for their continued generosity and the fantastic relationship we’ve built over the years. Thank you to everyone at Plantsplus for helping us continue to be there when people need us most. 

Young Farmers making a difference 

Sedbergh Young Farmers Club recently presented us with a fantastic cheque for £1,000, raised through members’ milestone birthday celebrations. 

During their visit to our airbase, Paramedic Andy gave the group an insight into the vital work of the Great North Air Ambulance Service, before answering some fantastic questions from the group, helping everyone gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by our Critical Care Team every day.  

The visit concluded with one of our patient story videos, whose powerful message really highlighted the difference their fundraising makes and the life-saving impact of their support. 

More than two decades of support 

We had the pleasure of meeting a long-term supporter, David Mitchell from Northumberland at Silloth Vintage Rally. 

For over 20 years, David has been stone grinding wheat into flour using his vintage engines, donating the proceeds to of his sales to our charity. 

His remarkable fundraising total now stands at almost £17,500! Thank you, David, for your unwavering support. 

A surprise presentation 

Sometimes the best moments are the unexpected ones. 

While enjoying the Westmorland Dales Festival in Kirkby Stephen, our Community Fundraiser Mieke was surprised by members of the Rotary Club of Upper Eden who turned up to present the Great North Air Ambulance Service with a cheque for an incredible £2,500. 

The money was raised at a spectacular Garden Party and Auction of Promises held at Winton Park Gardens. She was lucky enough to attend the event and witness the incredible generosity of those present, but never would have predicted such an outstanding result  

Moments like this remind me us just how fortunate we are to serve such a caring and supportive community. Thank you to everyone who played a part in making this happen. 

— 

From jam jars to mountain climbs, community fun days to cycling challenges, July has been another incredible month of fundraising. 

Every event, every donation and every supporter helps ensure our crews can continue bringing advanced critical care to people when they need it most. 

To every single one of our fundraising heroes – thank you. We can’t wait to see what next month brings!

From clay shoots and crafting circles to surprise presentations and marathon milestones, June has been filled with generosity, community spirit, and incredible dedication. 

Here’s a look at just some of the inspiring fundraising efforts this month… 

Crafting for a cause 

Volunteers Sue and Kath recently popped into Dot Whitehouse’s craft club after their collection box rounds and were delighted to receive fantastic £500 donation from the crafting group. 

The crafters meet weekly and spend their time creating a variety of handmade items. Dot then takes many of these creations to local events, where they are sold to raise funds for our charity. 

This latest donation is just one of many from Dot and her dedicated group, whose ongoing support continues to make a real difference.

Campsite kindness 

We paid a surprise visit to Lynton and Emma Skjolde at Castlerigg Farm Camping & Caravan Site near Keswick to thank them for their incredible support.  

Their latest donation of £1,000 brings their total fundraising contribution to our charity to an astonishing £13,437! 

Funds are raised through the generosity of their guests, who kindly donate in return for parking, freezer use, and other facilities available at the beautiful site.  

It’s a wonderful example of a local business and its visitors coming together to support a life-saving cause. 

Marathon determination  

Congratulations to Alex Burgess, who recently completed not one but two marathons in support of our charity.  

Alongside his dad, Alex joined us for a cheque presentation after raising an incredible £1,460 through his challenge.  

Taking on two marathons is an incredible achievement in itself but doing so while raising funds for our charity makes it even more special. 

Getting crafty at HQ 

This month, Sho welcomed Dot and her felt crafting ladies to HQ for a special crafting session.  

The group spent time sharing their skills and creativity, but what makes it even more amazing is that Dot generously provided both her time and materials completely free of charge, allowing all ticket sales from future sessions to go directly to us.  

Arts, crafts, and community spirit 

Volunteer Ken recently attended Greystoke Village Hall to receive a cheque for £704.50, generously raised by the Greystoke Arts & Craft Fair. 

One of the organisers, Mrs Nanu Hodson, explained how the funds were raised through a combination of stallholder fees, raffle ticket sales, and refreshments served throughout the day. 

The event was a fantastic success and a brilliant example of a community coming together to support a good cause.

Sharing our story 

Earlier this month, Mandy attended a lunch hosted by the Probus Club of Douglas where members gathered to learn more about our service. 

Mandy delivered a talk to the members, who found it very interesting and informative, with attendees keen to hear more about the work we do. There was even a former patient in attendance, making the occasion particularly meaningful. 

Fundraising firefighter 

Local firefighter, Daniel Maddocks, took on an extraordinary challenge last month, completing the 37.73-mile TT course while wearing full fire kit. 

Walking the route in just under 14 hours, Daniel demonstrated incredible resilience and determination throughout the day. 

Our volunteer Stuart joined him for a few miles along the way, offering support during the mammoth challenge! 

Stepping up for GNAAS 

We were delighted to attend a cheque presentation with the team at PwC Isle of Man, who raised funds for our charity through a workplace step challenge.  

The team embraced the challenge with enthusiasm, clocking up plenty of miles while supporting our life-saving service at the same time. 

Bridging support 

Alan and Sarah, trustees of the Keswick Bridge Appeal, recently visited our Langwathby airbase for an official cheque presentation of £750.  

The charity does fantastic work supporting causes across Keswick and the surrounding communities, and we’re grateful for their continued support of our charity. 

This year, their generous donation will go towards our Operation SOS Appeal, recognising the urgent need for a third helicopter to help us reach more people when it matters most. 

To say thank you, we treated Alan and Sarah to a guided tour of the helicopter and a chat with our critical care team about the life-saving work they  help make possible. 

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From creative crafts and community fairs to marathon running and endurance challenges, June has been packed with inspiring fundraising stories.  

Every pound raised helps us continue delivering critical care across the region, and we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported us this month.  

We can’t wait to see what July has in store!  

Feeling inspired? Kickstart your own fundraising journey today. 

Let’s take a look at some of May’s fundraising heroes… 

Lions on a mission 

Our first airbase visit of the month was a memorable one, as we welcomed the lovely team representing Yarm Lions, who raised £800 through bucket collections. 

It was a pleasure to show them around and introduce them to Joe, our CEO, and Pilot JJ. Not only did they get a photo with the heli, but they also witnessed our crews take off to a real call-out. 

They really enjoyed their visit and left inspired to spread the word to Lions Clubs in their area. Even more excitingly, GNAAS has been chosen as their charity from June 2026 to 2027, so we’re looking forward to seeing them again soon. 

The Strands National 

We welcomed The Strands National Team, who hosted their version of the Grand National in fancy dress, to our Langwathby Airbase for a cheque presentation this month.  

While they were here, they shared the exciting news that we will now be their chosen charity going forward. 

We’re so grateful for their ongoing support and can’t wait to see what they have planned next! 

Climbing for a cause 

Craig Greenwood from Tridonic took fundraising to new heights by climbing Scafell Pike and raising an incredible £915 for our charity.  

A large portion of the donations came from members of the North East RD Owners Club, so we’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who donated. It’s lovely to see how generous the biking community can be when rallying behind a good cause. 

A winning vote 

We were delighted to receive a £500 donation from Tesco Kingston Park following a public vote in support of our SOS Appeal. 

A huge thank you to Lesley and the Tesco customers who chose to support our life-saving service. Every vote truly made a difference. 

A full-circle moment 

We were honoured to welcome Cllr Christine Hallatsch, Mayor of Windermere & Bowness Town Council, to our Langwathby airbase on her final day in office.  

Joined by her daughter Vicky, the Mayor kindly presented us with a £250 donation from her annual allowance, recognising the vital role our service plays in supporting local communities. 

Not long after the mayor had left, the crew were called out once again – this time to Windermere. In a lovely full-circle moment, Doctor Kris captured a photo for the mayor, linking her visit to yet another real-life mission in the very community she supports. 

Remembering Ronald

We welcomed the family of former patient Ronald Murray to one of our HQ for a deeply moving visit.

Although Ronald has sadly passed away, his loved ones kindly chose to honour his memory with an incredible £1,000 donation to support our service.

Base visits like these are always incredibly special.

A bridge of generosity 

We’d like to say a huge thank you to the Keswick Bridge Appeal for their generous £750 donation and continued support of our charity. 

Running in Jordan’s memory 

Mandy recently met Savina and Mark Thomas, and their family, who raised an astonishing £12,000 for us in memory of their son Jordan. 

Jordan’s three cousins took on the incredible challenge of running the TT course every day for 5 days – an inspiring tribute filled with determination, love, and generosity. 

Although we did not attend Jordan’s incident, the family chose to support our service to help others in need of critical care. Their kindness means so much to us. 

Cards for a cause 

The Old Crown Bridge Club kindly presented us with a £500 donation this month, helping to keep our crews flying and saving lives across the North.

Pedalling with purpose 

Also this month, we welcomed Glen Hickman on behalf of Air Ambulance UK.   

In April 2021, Glen Hickman sustained multiple brain injuries in a cycling accident and has no memory of the incident or the following two weeks. He spent seven weeks in hospital and months in recovery after being treated at the scene by an air ambulance critical care team who took control of his breathing and stabilised him. 

Now, five years later, Glen is cycling 1,600km (1,000 miles) across the UK, in a challenge that will take nearly three weeks to complete, in support of Air Ambulances UK and Headway UK. 

Glen said: 

“I can never repay what was done for me, but this challenge is my way of giving something back. It’s also about proving to myself that the incident didn’t take everything away and showing that there is life – and quality of life – after brain injury.” 

Even more inspiringly, Glen is fully funding the ride himself, ensuring every donation goes directly to charity. At the time of his visit, he had already raised £2,756 through his JustGiving page. 

Birthday celebrations with a purpose 

Peter and Sandra Slade celebrated their milestone 75th and 80th birthdays in a truly generous way — raising £500 for our charity.   

What a wonderful way to celebrate such special occasions! 

Little legs, life-saving support 

The children from Rickleton Primary School laced up their trainers to run the Sunderland 3K, and raised and incredible £1,500 for our charity.  

Among the runners were the children of one of our doctors, Dr Phil Dowson, making the event even more special for our team. 

We’re so proud of every single child who took part – fundraising heroes come in all ages! 

Bingo bonanza  

Mandy, Stuart and Brian attended a fantastic bingo night hosted by Thomas Miller Ltd this month.  

It was a great event, packed with fun, laughter, and community spirit. Huge thanks to the charity committee at Thomas Miller Ltd for all their hard work, to all the local businesses who donated prizes and everyone who attended for making such a huge success. 

Laughs that made a difference 

Volunteer Kate went to Little Boxes Comedy Night at Etal Village Hall in Northumberland, which raised £480 in ticket sales alone. 

The event was made even more special thanks to the hall kindly waiving the hire fee and performer Jo donating her time for free. 

Kate also spoke about our charity on the evening and raised additional donations through the collection bucket. 

She later attended a cheque presentation with Caroline Bickerton, Etal Village Hall Committee Chair, Rickard Baker, Etal Village Hall Committee Treasurer, and Nicky Clark, Event Organiser. 

Creativity and kindness 

Volunteer Stuart was delighted to be presented with a cheque for £1,000 from Mannin Quilters, who chose us as their Charity of the Year.  

The group raised the fantastic total through a series of coffee mornings, exhibitions and raffles – proving that creativity and kindness make a wonderful combination. 

Primary pupils go the extra mile

Pupils from Rickleton Primary School showed incredible determination and community spirit when they took part in the Sunderland 3K, raising more than impressive £1,500. Among those taking part were the children of air ambulance doctor Phil Dowson, who cheered them on and praised their fundraising efforts. He said: “The kids have done an incredible job completing the run at that young age. The amazing amount of money raised will truly help save someone’s life.”

Seeing the incredible dedication of our supporters month after month never fails to inspire us. 

Whether it’s running, climbing, crafting, cycling, baking, or simply bringing people together, every fundraiser helps keep our helicopters flying and our critical care team responding when they’re needed most. 

Thank you to every single person who supported our charity this May, we can’t wait to see what June brings! 

From choirs and cake sales to tractor runs and milestone celebrations, here’s a look at just some of the incredible fundraising efforts we’ve been lucky enough to see this month. 

A warm welcome in Rothbury 

Early in the month, we headed to Rothbury to meet with members of a local choir who recently help a joint performance, along with a separate weekend concert in support of our charity with a focus on Operation SOS. 

It was a real pleasure to collect their fundraising total, but even more special to spend time with members over a cup of tea, chatting about our service and the impact their support makes.  

The visit ended on a high note – quite literally – with a beautiful impromptu performance of two songs, a moment that perfectly captured their generosity and spirit. 

Networking success  

Amanda and Ben attended the first pop-up of the North East Network Event, held across the new Stack at Pilgrim Street and Hotel Gotham, again on Pilgrim Street. 

We had a lovely day sharing more about our work, and as chosen charity for the day we were delighted to raise an incredible £800. 

Walton Young Farmers go the extra mile 

We welcomed Walton Young Farmers to our Langwathby airbase for a community talk, base visit, and cheque presentation. 

The group raised an outstanding £2,000 for our charity through their Christmas Tractor Run, so it was great to have them at base, show them how their efforts help keep our service flying, and to say thank you! 

Impact on the Island 

Volunteer Stuart with Mr Curphey Taggart, Chairman of Malew Parish Commissioners. We were chosen as their COTY for their Annual Civic Service which took place in March. 

We’re proud to see continued support from the Isle of Man community. We met with Mr Curphey Taggart, Chairman of Malew Parish Commissioners, for a cheque presentation of £800 after we were chosen as Charity of the Year. 

Community support 

Elsewhere on the Island, colleagues at Manx Care hosted a fantastic cake sale in their staff restaurant, with two staff members taking on the Great North Run later this year. They raised over £1,000 which is incredible – we have to say, the cakes must have been amazing!

Birthday bash boost 

We welcomed Mr Carl Bevan to our Langwathby airbase. He brought with him the funds collected from a whip round at his 80th birthday bash.  

A wonderful way to turn a special occasion into something that will help save lives! 

Gardening generosity 

We also held a base visit and cheque presentation for Caldbeck & District Gardening Club. They raised £700 through seed potato sales and a raffle, proving once again how small community efforts add up to a big difference. 

Bottoms up! 

At the Isle of Man Beer & Cider Festival, Mandy and volunteer Stuart were on hand to support fundraising efforts.  

We’d like to say a huge thank you to the festival organisers for choosing us as their Charity of the Year and to Odins Brewery for producing their special “Lifeline Brew”! 

Strands National support 

We also spent time at The Strands Inn, Screes Inn, Strands Distillery & Brewery for their Strands National Day, they also fundraiser for us over Easter. 

It was an event full of energy, laughter, and even a few surprises! It was a brilliant reminder of how fundraising and fun often go hand in hand. 

Pennine YFC presentations 

Pennine YFC visited our Langwathby Airbase to present us with a fantastic £2,000 donation.  

The group arrived just as the Pride of Cumbria was tasked to an incident in Millom, so they witnessed the helicopter take off before later seeing it return! 

They also enjoyed a guided tour from pilot Mik, and paramedic Terry explained how their fundraising supports life-saving care before the tractor put the aircraft to bed which proved a hit with the young farmers! 

Wrapping up  

We also visited Ryecroft Glenton for a cheque presentation for monies they had raised throughout 2025/2026 while we were Charity of the Year.  

While we were there, we also collected several bags of clothing donations.  

It was a lovely end to a long-standing relationship that has delivered consistent support throughout the year. We’re incredibly grateful for their continued commitment! 

Festive fundraising  

We would also like to thank Castlegate Singers Cockermouth who raised £400 through their festive Christmas concert raffle held in aid of Operation SOS campaign. 

We met them this month for a cheque presentation, and their generosity and enthusiasm for supporting local causes shone through. 

Eyes down 

The Wilcock family, who own and run the Shepherds Inn Langwathby, visited the airbase to present a cheque for £935.95. The money was raised thanks to a fantastic turnout from local residents at their annual bingo night.  

The funds reflect the generosity of the Langwathby community, who supported the event in their droves.  

Long‑standing supporters, the Shepherds Inn also traditionally provide Christmas dinner for our on‑duty crew, underlining their role as truly good neighbours. 

Parish praise 

A huge thank you to Parish of St George’s & All Saints, who raised an incredible £1,000 through their Community Lent Lunches. 

Birthday base visit  

We held an airbase visit for Dave Mitchell who Amanda met last year at The Northumberland Vintage Tractor Annual Rally at Brunton Airfield. 

We did a cheque presentation at the event with him last year, and after speaking to his family, organised this airbase visit to tie in with his 85th birthday! 

Over the years, Dave has raised over £17,000. His family are super proud of him and his fundraising dedication. Joe, our CEO, came and had a chat with Dave and his family before they had a pitstop in Hangar 63. 

Shap show support 

Organisers of the Shap Fell Model Transport Show visited the Langwathby airbase after raising a fantastic £1,000 at their annual event. 

The total was generously split between the local youth football team and our charity. 

During the visit, the group were listening to paramedic Laura when the helicopter and crew were dispatched on a call out. From a safe distance, they watched the Pride of Cumbria take off, which was a powerful moment that brought to life everything they had just heard. 

Herdster heroes 

It was great to welcome the Herdsters to our Langwathby airbase this month. They were visiting Cumbria for HerdyCon, so popped in to support us too. 

Each brought their favourite Herdwick (Herdy) onto the helipad for a brilliant photo and presented our charity with a magnificent £860. 

Huge thanks to these extraordinary reps of the comm‑ewe‑nity we serve! 

Toys, tech, and treasures 

We held a cheque presentation with Mandy and Martin from Toys n Tech, along with Ann who worked in their shop. 

Mandy and Martin have now retired, and after the shop closed, they held a fundraising day for us where the proceeds from everything that was sold was donated to us. They also kindly donated the remaining stock to us to use as prizes! 

They have supported us since March 2024 and have now raised over £20,000 for our charity. 

Insight and inspiration 

Mandy was invited as guest speaker at the Inner Wheel monthly dinner towards the end of the month. She provided an informative insight to the work of our air ambulance service. 

The members enjoyed the talk and gave a truly kind donation of £200! 

Creativity for a cause 

Emily and Mieke were warmly welcomed to Watermillock Village Hall for a cheque presentation following the Watermillock Painting Group’s annual Easter exhibition. 

With tea and gloriously warm cake, we heard how the group raised an incredible £650 through a raffle and donations at the door, and were delighted by just how generous people had been in support of our charity. 

It was moving to hear the personal connections so many people shared with the charity! 

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Thank you all for your incredible effort! 

Every event, donation, and gesture featured this month plays a vital role in keeping our service running and our crews saving lives. 

Thank you to each and every one of our April Fundraising Heroes, we can’t wait to see what May brings. 

Here’s a snapshot of some of the incredible things they’ve been up to this month…

Edie Smart Cup

At the beginning of the month, a team from the RNLI joined us at Cullercoats Lifeboat Station for a cheque presentation following the tragic event of last summer, when both the RNLI and GNAAS were called to assist Edie. Thanks to their swift action, the family gained an extra four precious days with her.

The Edie Smart Cup 2025, held on 1 November, raised funds to be shared between the RNLI and GNAAS. It was a powerful tribute raising thousands in Edie’s memory.

The final amount was recently confirmed, and we were both presented a cheque for £14,711.67 – an incredible amount that will make a huge difference.

Birthday Bonus

Huge thanks to President Jackie Welch and the amazing ladies of Penrith Inner Wheel, who have raised a fantastic £1,110 for our charity.

Mieke joined them for their 73rd birthday lunch, followed by a presentation where she shared how their generosity will make a real difference to our Operation SOS Campaign. They very generously added another £80 there and then – incredible!

Darts and donations

A huge shoutout to the Moorland Ladies Darts Team for donating £500 to GNAAS!

They are ongoing supporters and not only do they raise funds but also help spread the word about our work in the groups they attend, showing how small acts can ripple outwards!

90th Celebrations

A very special mention goes to Malcolm, who celebrated his 90th birthday in style while raising over £1,000 for GNAAS!

Malcolm was overwhelmed by the support and generosity of friends and family, and we’re thrilled that his milestone celebration will have a lasting impact on our service. We’re hoping to welcome him to HQ soon to say thank you in person.

Golfing for good

We joined outgoing Captain Peter Ferns for a cheque presentation at Blackwell Grange Golf Club, where GNAAS was named Charity of the Year.

They raised an impressive £4,200 for our life-saving service – thank you so much!

Cheers to The Derry

We’d also like to say a huge thank you to Sean Drinkel, landlord of The Derry at Longnewton, for who has supported our charity throughout 2025 and beyond.

Ben paid a visit for a cheque presentation, and our heli made a perfectly timed coincidental flyover – fantastic recognition of the team’s incredible efforts!

Racing, remembrance, and remarkable fundraising

Amanda visited Wooler Golf Club to meet with, and celebrate the efforts of, the NE Vinduro Club.

She joins them twice a year for an auction and a charity update, following their first day of racing at the weekend event.

At the event it was announced that they raised £3,274.25 for our charity last year, bringing their total to date for GNAAS to £16,743.20!

The evening was also a touching tribute to Deka Davison, who unexpectedly passed away earlier this year. Deka was a familiar face at the event, taking photos for the club and kindly offering them without watermarks in exchange for donations to GNAAS.

We also shared more about our Operation SOS campaign, highlighting that anyone, anywhere, at any time may need our service.

It was a great atmosphere, with just over £2,000 raised on the night!

Another year of support

We recently attended a cheque presentation with the Charity Captains from Brampton Golf Club, who have once again chosen GNAAS as their charity.

Thank you for your continued support!

Freemasons’ generosity

A heartfelt thank you to the Durham Freemasons and the Head of the Order of Scarlett Cord of Durham and Northumberland for donating £1,000 to our Operation SOS campaign.

Your generosity helps keep our crews ready to respond to those in need.

A legacy that lives on

We were honoured to receive a cheque for £1,000, raised in loving memory of Nick Thomas, who sadly passed away last November.

Nick created a wonderful social community hub with his mobile Saddleback Coffee Hut in Langwathby – a place enjoyed and appreciated by villagers and visitors alike.

It’s heartwarming to see Langwathby Village Hall continuing the community spirit Nick started, by hosting regular coffee mornings for everyone to enjoy.

A huge thank you to everyone involved in raising these funds. Nick’s legacy truly lives on.

Coffee, community, and kindness

Amanda and our Volunteer Jackie were at Rosebrough Court for a coffee morning and tabletop sale recently, raising even more funds for GNAAS.

The group regularly fundraises for us and, although we couldn’t attend their Easter event, they kindly organised this special coffee morning.

From delicious food to friendly chatter, everyone had a brilliant time while supporting a life-saving cause.

Steps that save lives

We welcomed representatives from Keswick Athletic Club to our airbase in Langwathby to celebrate their amazing contribution to our Operation SOS campaign.

Through their fundraising efforts – including a boost from their annual awards night – they raised a fantastic £1,400 towards the deposit for a third “new-to-us” helicopter. Thank you for your generosity!

During their visit, Paramedic Laura and Doctor Izzy shared insights into how our Critical Care Teams operate and the advanced life-saving interventions they bring directly to the scene of an emergency.

Woodcraft generosity

We visited Claire and William Lambert at The Woodcraft Studio, formerly Gayle Mill Trust, near Hawes for a cheque presentation.

Willian, who judges Shepherd’s Crook competitions, has even handcrafted crooks for both HRH Camilla and King Charles – with Charles using regularly!

Together, they donated an incredible £1,000 to our charity, raised through sales of their beautifully handmade wood products at last year’s Christmas markets. Their generosity didn’t stop there, with a remarkable £16,500 donated across 11 charities. An inspiring example of craftsmanship making a real difference.

–

From community cafés to golf clubs, darts teams to birthday parties, March has been packed with generosity and action.

Every single fundraiser makes a difference, and we are so grateful to each and every one of you for being part of our story.

We can’t wait to see what April will bring!

This marks a huge step forward in the journey to replace our fleet by bringing three “new-to-us” Airbus H145 helicopters into service.  

Thanks to the incredible support from our community, we have now raised over £625,000, reaching 25% of the funds needed for the deposit on our third aircraft. It’s amazing to see so many people rallying behind the service that saves lives every day.  

We still need to raise a total of £2.5 million to secure the deposit for our third new helicopter by October 2026. 

But this isn’t just about buying helicopters. It’s about being able to fly them safely as well. 

What is a type rating and why does it matter? 

In aviation, a type rating is the specific certification that allows a pilot to fly a particular aircraft model. Currently, our pilots have type ratings to fly the Dauphin AS365 N3 and the Dauphin AS365 N3+ – the two helicopters that make up our current fleet. 

While our pilots are highly experienced, with backgrounds in military aviation and search and rescue operations, their active type ratings are limited to the aircraft they regularly fly.  

Introducing the H145 safely into our service means each of our pilots must now undergo specialist training and gain a new type rating for this aircraft. That involves learning everything from systems and controls to emergency procedures, ensuring every flight is as safe as possible. 

Helicopter simulator training 

The first two of our pilots, Mik and Mark, have now completed their initial H145 simulator training, with the remainder of the team soon to follow. 

The training took place at a specialist simulator facility in Kemble, Gloucestershire; one of only three locations currently approved by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for H145 simulator training – the other two being in Germany and Finland. 

To remain current with this aircraft type, the CAA requires each pilot to train in a simulator with an instructor every six months. 

The simulator can be tailored to almost any environment using mapping data and computer-generated imagery, including a virtual version of our base, complete with the helipad, surrounding buildings and key landmarks. This means that our pilots can practise everything – from routine flights to rare emergencies – in a safe, controlled setting. 

Why is this so important? Because there are some scenarios you just can’t safely recreate in real life. Engine failures, sudden loss of visibility, and other high-risk emergencies can be simulated, giving pilots the experience and confidence to handle them if they ever happen in the air. 

After training in the simulator, pilots must spend additional hours flying the real aircraft to demonstrate their ability to safely operate it. This combination of virtual and real-world practice ensures our team is ready for anything. 

Securing the future of our service 

Operation SOS is gathering real momentum. Our pilots have now begun their training on the H145, marking another major milestone in bringing our new fleet into service. 

Replacing our fleet isn’t just about the helicopters themselves – it’s about ensuring our crews are fully prepared to operate them safely and confidently, so we can continue delivering life-saving care when it matters most. 

But Operation SOS is about more than new aircraft; it’s about securing our service for the community for years to come. Every pound raised helps us maintain a life-saving air ambulance service across the North for the next 15 years. 

We couldn’t do this without you. Your support means we can train pilots, upgrade our fleet, and continue to save lives – day after day, year after year. 

Every donation, share, and message of support brings us closer to the finish line and ensures our service remains ready whenever it’s needed. 

To find out more about Operation SOS: Secure Our Service and support the appeal, visit gna.as/support_our_service 

Across the region, individuals, schools, clubs and communities came together to raise vital funds for our air ambulance service, and we couldn’t be more grateful.

Here’s a look at some of the incredible fundraising heroes who made February so special…

Convoy community spirit

Kerry and Colin from Cumbria Charity Convoy braved a very cold and windy morning at our Langwathby airbase to present us with an incredible £7,000 cheque, raised during their 2025 event.

With the majority of convoy participants coming from farming and transport backgrounds, they understand just how vital our helicopters are for rural Cumbria and they’re determined to help drive fundraising for our SOS Appeal this year!

Coffee mornings and craft fairs

A huge thank you goes to everyone at Cooil Roi Social Club in Laxey who raised £1,224 for our charity through a series of coffee mornings, raffles, and craft fairs.

Tractor run triumph

Our Volunteer Emma, from Berwick, joined by her grandson George attended a Berwick Rugby Match for a cheque presentation.

The donation represented our share of the funds raised at during December’s tractor run around Berwick and the surrounding areas. It’s always amazing to see communities come together in support of our service.

Little fundraisers, big hearts

Neville and Miles the Bear visited St Peter’s C of E Primary School in Wallsend for a heart-warming cheque presentation.

What started as a chance meeting with a Team Leader at a Christmas Market, led us to a stall at the school’s Christmas Fayre, before Neville went in to the school for a presentation with the children. They then decided they wanted to raise funds during their Volunteers Week. So, the children proudly hosted a bake sale and raised a fantastic £86.10!

Talent show triumph

Brad and Adam from 4EDEN visited our Langwathby base with a handmade cheque for £138.11, raised through a talent show organised by their Skills Team.

Creativity and teamwork at its finest, thank you to everyone involved!

Young Farmers, mighty impact

It was an honour to attend the Coquetdale YFC fundraising presentation evening at Netherton Village Hall.

Throughout 2025, the group raised an astonishing £19,005 through events including tug of war competitions, speed shears, quiz nights, rally days and a spectacular Christmas tractor run featuring more than 60 tractors.

Seven charities and good causes benefited, including RABI, Hospice Care, Breast Cancer, Maggies, Mountain Rescue and the new Coquetdale Care For You fund set up by the club, with an incredible £9,548.98 donated to GNAAS.

Kindling kindness

Yesterday we had the pleasure of hosting Mr David Lightburn along with his friends Dave, Carl and his Granddaughter Olivia. They have been chopping and selling Kindling over the winter and raised a fantastic £1000 for us. 👍😀💚🚁

David Lightburn, alongside friends Dave, Carl and granddaughter Olivia, joined us at base after spending the winter chopping and selling kindling.

Their hard work raised a fantastic £1,000 for our charity, an incredible effort that will make a huge difference.

Flowers, food, and fundraising

Woodlands Park Floral Art Club, who have chosen us as their Charity of the Year, welcomed us to their AGM evening.

After a pie and pea supper, followed by a selection of cakes and cream, they kindly presented us with their £50 charity cheque! Combined with generous donations and merchandise sales following a community talk, the evening raised over £300. A brilliant result and a lovely evening shared together.

A firefighter’s fitness challenge

Local firefighter Daniel Maddocks pushed himself to the limit by completing a Hyrox Challenge in full firefighting kit, including an oxygen tank.

Finishing in under two hours, Daniel has raised more than £1,600 for GNAAS and The Fire Fighters Charity. An incredible physical and fundraising achievement.

Full house for fundraising

Lex and Martin from Opera Bingo Carlisle hosted a charity night in October 2025, supported by one of their regular players, Jean, aged 90, who helped source prizes with her granddaughter. The fantastic evening raised £1,700!

A lifetime of giving back

We were delighted to welcome Eddie Mac and his friend Bob to our base after Eddie raised his funds for us. They came to check out the coffee house before we gave them a tour around the base.

With more than 46 years of fundraising behind him – supporting football clubs, purchasing specialist equipment for children, and helping community organisations – Eddie has now chosen to focus his efforts on GNAAS this year, and we’re honoured to have his support.

Charity of the Year celebrations

Volunteer Susan visited Brocksbushes Farm Shop for a special cheque presentation marking the end of their 2025 Charity of the Year partnership with us.

After supporting numerous events throughout the year, it was a fitting moment to say thank you for their incredible dedication.

Auction success

Barnard Castle Young Farmers’ Club raised an impressive £4,590 through a charity auction, demonstrating once again the amazing fundraising power of Young Farmers groups across our region.

Tractors and tinsel

Hopes Auction in Wigton raised £9,000 through their Tractor & Tinsel Run, with funds split between three charities, each receiving £3,000.

A fantastic community event combining festive fun with life-saving impact.

Valentine’s Day visit

On Valentines Day, we attended the AGM of the Westmorland Agricultural Society, where the outgoing President, Mrs Judith Buckley, presented the charity with a £2,500 cheque. We were her chosen charity at the President’s Family Fun Day in June.

Elvis evening entertainment

Mandy, Barry, and Stuart enjoyed a fantastic Elvis Tribute evening on the Isle of Man, where Jake certainly put the fun into fundraising during a lively bucket collection!

It was a brilliant night full of music, energy, and generosity – thank you to everyone who supported us.

Music, magic, and bucket collections

The team were also delighted to attend The Princess Show for another successful bucket collection.

A huge thank you to Sarah and everyone at D’May Entertainments for their continued support and for helping raise vital funds for our life-saving service.

Community lunches that care

Mandy also attended a Lent lunch at St George’s & All Saint’s Hall, where the dedicated organisers presented £500 raised through their community lunches over the last year.

Miniature magic for a big cause

We also visited the members of Cleveland Miniaturists UK for a cheque presentation this month.

They raised £600 for our life-saving service by running tombolas and also by raffling off two advent calendars full of dolls house miniatures whilst attending a Dolls House Fair at Pudsey near Leeds in November 2025. A great effort that will make a massive difference.

Thank you

Every event held, challenge completed, cake baked and mile travelled helps keep our helicopters flying and our crews ready when they’re needed most.

To everyone who fundraised, donated, volunteered, or supported us this February, thank you. Your kindness, generosity and community spirit continue to power our life-saving service every single day.

So, let’s take a moment celebrate all the incredible efforts of our fundraising heroes who made January such a strong start to 2026.

Lily’s festive fundraiser

Lily, who is an incredible 93 years young, decided to host a booze raffle this Christmas in aid of GNAAS – and what a success it was!

Fellow residents at Oak Field Court donated many of bottles of alcohol, along with lots of donations of money too, bringing her fundraising to an amazing £700.

We popped along to meet Lily and the other residents and what a hoot we had – proof that you’re never too old to make a big difference!

A Christmas raffle to remember

We were delighted to attend a cheque presentation with Atlas Concrete & D A Harrison, who raised £2,700 by holding a Christmas Charity Raffle.

We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone involved for turning festive fun into life-saving support.

Flowers for flights

The Whitehaven Flower Club presented us with a wonderful donation of £1,500. And they’ve chosen GNAAS and Blood Bikes as their chosen charities for the next three years.

We’re so grateful for your long-term support – thank you!

Fundraising fit

A big thank you goes out to Northern Warrior Fitness, who chose us as their charity of the year for 2025 and raised a brilliant £1,534.

Sweat, strength, and serious generosity – we love to see it.

‘Tis the season

Ferryhill Methodist Church raised £800 through Christmas carol singing over the festive period. A wonderful way to spread cheer and help save lives at the same time.

Jumpers with a purpose

Greaves West & Ayre in Berwick held their annual Christmas Jumper Day in December in aid of GNAAS once again in 2025.

They have supported us in this way for a few years now, and we’re so thankful for their continued kindness. Amanda paid them a visit this month and was presented with a cheque for £350!

Auction action

Brian & Sons Removals in Alnwick recently held an auction of items following a house clearance, and they kindly decided to donate all proceeds to GNAAS.

Thanks to their generosity, the event raised a fantastic £805 for our life-saving service! We were thrilled to join them for a cheque presentation, and even Miles the Bear made a special appearance, bringing smiles all around.

We’re so grateful for their support – every pound helps our crews reach patients when it matters most.

Christmas cheer in Port Erin

We were thrilled to attend a cheque presentation with The Whistlestop Cafe in Port Erin following their Christmas raffle, which raised £1,035.

The funds raised will be split to support both GNAAS and Manx Breast Cancer Support Group – a fantastic boost for two worthy causes.

In Matty’s memory

We were honoured to attend cheque presentation with Tom Heath from Opulent Odds and Ben Blackburn from AAA Roofing, who raised an astonishing £18,177 through their Christmas competition campaign.

Incredibly, Tom has now almost £70,000 over 18 years, in memory of his brother Matty.

The dedication is truly moving – thank you.

Kindness in Corbridge

Our Volunteer Susan attended a cheque presentation with the St Andrews’ Women’s Fellowship of Corbridge following their fundraising for GNAAS.

They raised a fantastic £600 – a brilliant effort from a wonderful group.

Game on

Our volunteer Olwen joined the Carlisle Sunday Night Darts League for a cheque presentation after they held a fundraiser on Boxing Day night and raised £500.

Competitive spirit put to exceptionally good use!

From service to support

Mieke and our volunteer Jim visited NARPO Kendal, a group of retired Police Officers in the Kendal area of South Cumbria. We discussed their experiences with our charity and of course our SOS campaign.

They presented us with a cheque for £400, raised through a raffle at one of their regular coffee mornings, alongside a very generous private donation from a member whose friend’s life had been saved by our crew.

Oh yes, they did!

The Marske’d Players brought festive fun to the stage with their performance of this year’s pantomime, Cinderella, and helped support our service along the way.

All ticket proceeds this year were donated to our charity, raising a total of £2345.13!

Calendars for a cause

The Wainwright Society chose us as their Charity of the Year for 2025, and they have been remarkably busy fundraising for us!

Through their fundraising and selling a calendar that they made for us, they have raised over £12,000 – absolutely incredible work.

Let there be lights

We’d like to give a big shout-out to everyone involved in Skeeby Christmas Lights, who not only spread festive cheer throughout the season but also raised funds for our life-saving service.

The community came together to create a festive spectacle, with dozens of homes in the village lit up with Christmas lights this December.

Sarah Jones and Helen Bowler recently came to our base for a cheque presentation, and we were delighted to receive an incredible £1,886!

A musical mission

Our volunteer Barry joined Shirley and John who recently hosted a Bob Dylan Event at Laxey Working Men’s Institute.

It was a great night, and they raised an impressive £1,330 for our charity.

Disco for a difference

Thank you to Karen Corlett, Michaela Gell and Karl Christian who raised £2,350 for us by hosting a community disco at the Masonic Hall in Ramsey.

Dancing really can save lives!

Christmas giving

Amanda went to St Columba’s United Reformed Church in North Shields where we were presented with £300, collected during their Christmas Market and donated to us.

The photo captured their Minister, Revd Louise Sanders, handing over the funds – a lovely moment of generosity.

Fundraising farmers

We enjoyed an airbase visit, talk and cheque presentation with Wigton Young Farmers.

Between 2014 and 2024, they have raised £3,883.30 for our charity. That’s some amazing long-term support!

They also held a Big Breakfast fundraiser in 2025 – and once the final amount is confirmed, that will be added too.

Golf for good

Charlie Jackson, Club Captain 25, and Kathryn Ord, Lady Captain 25, presented us with a fantastic £8,470.09 raised from the generosity of members of Durham City Golf Club.

Kathryn shared:

“The service is a vital part of our society and through a close friends personal experience I was delighted to choose GNAAS as my chosen charity which my fellow club captain was also happy to support.”

Cub kindness

The 21st Darlington Cubs came to our HQ for an airbase visit and kindly made a donation of £20.00 in support of our charity.

The group enjoyed it so much that they are still enthusiastically talking about their visit and how they’re hoping to take on a Mile4Miles in the Spring!

A long walk for a good cause

Alex also visited our HQ to donate money to our charity, but it was quite the trek. He took two trains and a 40-minute walk to get here, before kindly donating £80 raised for our SOS appeal.

That’s determination and generosity all in one!

Blazing generosity

Mandy and volunteer Stuart visited Ramsey Fire Station for a tour of the station and cheque presentation. Their crew recently held a charity car wash with the proceeds being split between GNAAS and the Fire Service Benevolent Fund.

A heartfelt reunion

During a recent visit to the Isle of Man by one of our critical care paramedics, Andy, we were able to arrange a meeting with a previous patient, John, and his family.

It was a wonderful meeting, and Andy was able to chat at length with John as he was one of the crew members who attended the incident.

We’d like to say a huge thanks to John’s wife Julie and daughters Nicola and Anna who also raised £349.72 recently for GNAAS, following a bucket collection at The Gaiety Theatre.

Rocking for GNAAS

Thanks so much to Lenny Conroy of Triskel Promotions for letting us run a bucket collection at the recent Davy Knowles & Band of Friends concert at Peel Centenary Centre.

We danced, had fun and raised £267.50 – a brilliant night for GNAAS!

We are continually inspired by the dedication and generosity of our supporters, and every pound raised helps our crews reach patients when they need us most.

Thank you to all our fundraising heroes for making January such a powerful start to 2026. We can’t wait to see what the rest of the year brings…

Even amid the hustle and bustle of Christmas, supporters from across the region continued to come together to help raise vital funds for our air ambulance charity 💚 

Take a look as we shine the spotlight on our incredible December Fundraising Heroes 

Postcode party 

Mandy and Stuart attended the AFD Postcode Party & Charity Event 2025 over on the Isle of Man. We were delighted to receive a donation of £1,000.00 after being nominated by their General Manager, Duncan McLeod.    

It was a great evening which gave us the opportunity to celebrate and share the work of our charity and other incredible charities too. A huge thank you to everyone involved for their generosity and support. 

A ball to remember 

We’re incredibly grateful to Robert Martin and the Isle of Man Society of Chartered Accountants, who raised £1,254.87 for us at their annual ball, held at Woodbourne House in Douglas. 

A wonderful evening for a brilliant cause – thank you for choosing to support our life-saving service. 

Bicentennial celebrations 

December brought an impromptu cheque presentation with Jim, the Landlord of the Locomotion Pub in Eaglescliffe, following their annual ‘Locomotion Trail Run’ for charity.  

This year was extra special, marking the bicentennial of George Stephenson’s first passenger train journey (the world’s first!) between Darlington and Stockton, which passed our HQ.    

Community involvement was at the heart of the day. The commemorative medal design came from a local school competition, won by George Lingard-Reay, while Frankie Baum, a Duke of Edinburgh volunteer, played a key role as part of the race timing team. Medals were presented by artist Lucy Pittaway alongside local MP Matt Vickers. 

It was a truly special event celebrating history, community, and generosity, raising £2606 for our charity.  

Tractor magic 

Walton Young Farmers Club lit up December with their Christmas Tractor Run, featuring around 70 beautifully decorated vehicles. It was an incredible evening full of festive cheer and community pride. Deborah even got our charity van into the spirit! 

Trucks, tractors, and festive cheer 

We were also proud to be part of the North Tyne Christmas Truck Run, with a cheque presentation in Kielder before joining the convoy back to Hexham.  

Volunteers also hosted a stall at Hexham Mart, where crowds gathered to welcome the trucks as they arrived. 

It was fantastic to see so much support along the route! 

Spinathon success 

At Cockermouth Sports Centre, supporters took on a charity Spinathon, with 50% of the funds raised donated to our charity and the other half supporting Mountain Rescue. 

We bet there were some aching legs – all for two worthy causes! Thank you to everyone who took part. 

Little fundraisers, big hearts 

Over the summer, a group of children and their childminders paid to have exclusive use our conference room, completed with the added benefit of a presentation and a hangar tour with the crew took to look at Shelly and our response vehicles. They all had a wonderful afternoon and, inspired by their visit, they pledged to do some fundraising in the future for us.  

Since then, they’ve taken on various walks in different locations and raised funds for our charity. This month, they proudly presented the funds they raised, with our volunteer John White attending the cheque presentation. A wonderful reminder that you’re never too young to make a difference! 

Light up the sky 

Ryecroft Glenton, who currently have us as their Chosen Charity, welcomed us to see their Light Up the Sky Campaign Tree. 

The team held a raffle, Christmas jumper day, and shared festive food, with a special visit from Miles the Bear adding to the celebrations.  

Thank you to the whole Ryecroft Glenton team for your continued support and Christmas spirit. 

£10,000 for Operation SOS 

The ladies of Alston Cottage League of Friends braved the cold winds in Langwathby to present an incredible £10,000 cheque in support of our Operation SOS campaign. 

Their heartfelt words recognised the vital service we provide to Alston Moor and its community. We are deeply grateful for their generosity and encouragement as we work towards securing a new helicopter. 

Double the impact 

Paracise with Donna raised an amazing £4,550 through a series of coffee mornings, afternoon teas and their fantastic raffle.  

Thanks to the Z Zurich Foundation, this generous donation was matched, doubling its impact.  

We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone involved. 

Brockbushes, books and brownies 

We loved attending the Brockbushes Christmas food and drink market this month. We have been their Chosen Charity of the Year, and they are nearing an incredible £5000 raised for us.  

It was especially lovely to spend time with Clara Nicholl, whose daughter, Elsie, we attended. She continues to do so much for our charity through donations from her book and her (amazing!) brownies.  

Metal detecting heroes 

We held a cheque presentation with County Durham Metal Detectorists, who recently donated £5,000 to help us hit our Big Give target. 

Their dedication over the years is remarkable – they have now raised an astonishing £34,000 in just four years. An incredible group doing extraordinary things. 

A village that knows our impact 

We were honoured to attend the South Charlton village Christmas lights switch-on, after responding to an incident involving a village resident earlier this year. 

With a raffle, tombola, festive treats, and kind donations along with a visit from Santa, it was a wonderful evening.  

Speaking with residents who have experienced our service first-hand, including someone who had been attended to by our team in 2024, was a powerful reminder of why community support matters so much. 

Braving the weather 

At the Solway Christmas Tractor and Truck Run in Silloth, over 20 tractors and trucks took part despite torrential rain and fierce winds. Supporters lined the route regardless of the weather, and £400 raised was split between us and the North West Ambulance Charity. 

True dedication in truly awful weather – thank you all. 

Coffee, crafts, and kindness 

The Crafty Crew Club attended our HQ for a cheque presentation this month, following their coffee morning and fundraiser for our charity. 

It was a lovely event filled with creativity and generosity – thank you for choosing to support us. 

Motorbikes and mighty hearts 

Northumberland Motor Cycle Clubs raised £1,730 for us at their BBQ fundraiser earlier this year, so our volunteer Neville went to see them for a cheque presentation. 

We’d like to say a huge thank you to all groups involved, including: 

• Revenants MCC 

• Infidels MCC 

• Kyndred Spirits MCC 

• Bloodaxe MCC 

• Hallowed Saints MCC 

Your combined support and generosity make a real difference to lives across the region! 

Domino cards for a cause 

Our Volunteer Neville attended a festive cheque presentation at a Christmas party, with residents from a 14-storey block of flats, organised by Lawrence Rodden. 

Through selling domino cards throughout the year, the group raised a fantastic £1,000 for our charity – an amazing effort and a brilliant example of community spirit. 

Thank you 

As both December and 2025 come to a close, we want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has fundraised for us this month and throughout the year. 

Every raffle ticket sold, tractor decorated, cake baked, mile walked, and challenge completed helps keep our helicopters flying and our crews ready when they’re needed most. 

Your compassion, generosity, and community spirit power our life-saving service. We truly couldn’t do it without you all.  

Here’s a look at the fundraising heroes who warmed our hearts this month… 

Halloween heroes 

We kicked off the month with a fright-filled treat, thanks to Thomas in Eaglescliffe, who transformed his home into a spooktacular Halloween attraction.  

Visitors enjoyed every eerie detail and their generous donations helped support our life-saving service. A huge thank you to Thomas and everyone who dared to visit, you raised almost £300 for GNAAS! 

Leap of a lifetime 

Skydiving at any age is impressive, but leaping from a plane at 80 years old is something extraordinary. Lynne Hernandez took to the skies earlier this month to raise money for GNAAS.  

Her courage alone is worth celebrating – well done, Lynne. 

Beetle bash bonanza 

Plantsplus Garden Centre hosted a beetle drive, which made for a brilliant night! The room was filled with lots of laughter from everyone while raising funds for us as their Chosen Charity of the Year.   

Walking for Demi Rose 

Mark and Natalie Varty and family hosted a powerful tribute to their daughter, Demi Rose Varty, who sadly passed away in April 2024. 

Their 20-mile sponsored run/walk, followed by an incredible entertainment evening at Maryport Social Club, raised a phenomenal £10,917.96. 

A heartfelt thank-you to the Varty family and everyone who supported them – your strength and generosity are remarkable.  

Golfing goodness 

We received a fantastic donation from the wonderful ladies of the Durham Golfing Association, who have continued to champion our service throughout the year.  

Bob headed out for a cheque presentation, and we couldn’t be more grateful for their ongoing dedication to saving lives across the North East.  

A beautiful tribute to Edie 

Amanda had the honour of representing the Great North Air Ambulance Service at the Edie Smart Cup along with Miles the Bear. The whole event, supported by so many in the community and from businesses, was phenomenal and such a fitting tribute to Edie.  

During the summer, 13-year-old Edie was taken far too soon and so her family and friends, football teammates and members of the local community came together to honour Edie while raising funds for the Great North Air Ambulance Service and the RNLI. 

From stalls, food, raffles and several football games there was something for everyone. 

A lot of work went into the event, and it was an amazing and fitting tribute to a remarkable young girl. 

The amount raised is not yet been finalised but has passed the 25k to split between both Charities. 

Mears Housing take to the skies 

We welcomed staff from Mears Housing for a special airbase visit after several team members completed a GNAAS skydive. Together, they raised an amazing £3,345. 

What an incredible team effort – thank you to everyone at Mears! 

Family fundraising 

Hannah Kennedy and her dad Leslie joined us for a cheque presentation this month after completing several fundraising activities for us, in, including the Great North Run, Big Breakfast, and bucket collecting at a show. 

Leslie was airlifted by GNAAS following a quad bike accident, and his son has been flown by us in the past too. Their family’s determination to give back means the world, so thank you. 

To Everest and beyond 

After three years of training, Janet and Jonathan Goodman finally took on the epic challenge of trekking to Mount Everest Base Camp. They self-funded their incredible journey, before raising over £3,000 for GNAAS. 

And this is just the beginning! The pair are already planning an even bigger challenge and have pledged to continue raising awareness and funds for our charity. Truly inspirational.  

Teatime tribute 

Every year, Gemma Graham and her family fundraise in memory of her dad, who we attended but sadly passed away. 

This year’s afternoon tea raised an amazing £2,500, bringing their overall total to an incredible £10,000.  

It’s a touching tradition that means so much to us.  

Bingo night for Operation SOS 

Volunteer Dawn Bamford hosted a brilliant bingo fundraiser in support of our Operation SOS campaign. Her efforts raised just over £900 – a fantastic contribution to our life-saving mission. Thank you, Dawn! 

Flower power 

We were delighted to receive a donation from the wonderful organisers of the Jurby Flower & Produce Show, whose community fundraising supports several charities including GNAAS. We are truly thankful for their wonderful support and generous donation. 

Tractor run triumph 

Engines were polished, lights were glowing, and tractors lined up beautifully for the Kirkby Stephen Young Farmers tractor run!  

A fantastic community event and a brilliant show of support – thank you to everyone involved! 

Sweet support 

Amanda attended the World Duty Free Sale at Newcastle Airport, where she met Alexandro Lamb – a young entrepreneur who has been baking and selling sweet treats after an enterprise class at school. 

He kindly chose to donate his earnings to GNAAS and proudly wears our pin on his school blazer to raise awareness of our charity. What a star! 

Mighty Mitre ladies 

The Mitre Ladies Darts Team recently held a Mhelliah and raised an incredible £1,050 for us. Mandy joined them for a cheque presentation and a chat about GNAAS and our life-saving work on the island that their generosity supports. 

Thank you ladies for your dedication and brilliant team spirit.  

Double the impact 

The IOM Insurance Institute have been fundraising for GNAAS recently through a series of events.  

Thank you for your support, and to the Z Zurich Foundation for kindly matching their donation. 

Merriment and motorcycles 

Towards the end of the month, West Cumbria Motorcycle Action Group braved the cold and wet weather for their Christmas Charity Ride. They raised £420 which was split between GNAAS and a local animal charity.  

And, in a lovely moment after everyone had gone, one gentleman quietly approached and handed over £10 – what he said he would have spent on fuel to take part in the ride and wanted it to go to us. A small but very kind gesture. 

Thank you 

As November comes to a close, we are once again reminded that our service is powered by the amazing people from across our region. 

Every mile walked, cake baked, tractor polished, and challenge completed helps us reach those who need us most. 

Thank you all for your compassion, courage, and continued support! Here’s to a December filled with just as much heart.