As the nights drew in and the frosty days arrived, our supporters across the North continued to shine brighter than ever.
From skydives to sponsored treks, tractor runs to touching tributes, November was full of heart, courage, and incredible generosity.
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.
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