A fundraising night will be held in memory of a Cumbrian teenager who died after a motorbike crash.
Joshua Wilson, 18, came off his motorbike on the A596 near Aspatria on September 25 last year.
The Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) flew to the scene and battled to save Mr Wilson, of Aspatria. The crew managed to resuscitate him and he was transported to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle in a critical condition but the teenager sadly died the morning after.
His mother, Linda Christie, now wants to raise funds for the charity that airlifted Josh to hospital. She said: “Without GNAAS we would never have had the chance to spend that last 24 hours with Josh.
“His injuries were just too severe but I know that they fought with their lives to try and save my son’s.
“We are so proud of the fact that he was on the organ donor register and it has brought a great deal of comfort knowing that he’s managed to help so many as a result of his tragic death.”
Josh donated a kidney to a woman in mid her 30s, a kidney and pancreas to a man in his late 40s, and a liver to a man in his early 60s.
This month, Mrs Christie received a letter from one of the organ recipients which she credits as being very special. She said: “It was a lovely letter from a gentleman thanking us for the gift of life. He is doing really well and the transplant was a success.”
The fundraising night will be held at Masonic Hall in Aspatria on April 11 at 7:30pm and if Mrs Christie can raise £1,000 before the event, she plans to shave her head on the evening to try and raise even more money. So far, she has collected £735.
There will also be live entertainment, plus a raffle and auction. Tickets are £5, call 07920 520207.
Mrs Christie said: “I often see the air ambulance flying overhead as our house is near a flight path. It turns my stomach every time but they are a critical service.
“GNAAS relies entirely on charitable donations. It is a vital part of the emergency services in Cumbria and we want to help keep them in the air in memory of a special young man.”
Josh was due to start an engineering course at Carlisle College. He had worked at the Greyhound Inn in Bothel since April. Speaking about the pub, Mrs Christie said: “They have been such a support to our family and they are selling raffle tickets for the event at the moment.”
Josh leaves an identical twin brother, Dan, and older brother, Matthew. His father, Alan, died in an industrial accident in 2001.
To sponsor Mrs Christie’s head shave, click here.
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