Put your hands together for March’s Fundraising Heroes

From cheque presentations to community coffee mornings, March has been a whirlwind of generosity, creativity, and heartwarming moments.

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.

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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!