An army of volunteers across Yorkshire have helped to create over 10,000 origami angels during lockdown, to be exhibited at Ripon Cathedral for their Wing and a Prayer project, raising vital funds for the Cathedral and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA).
The Wing and a Prayer project which was launched in May this year, asked people to donate ‘an angel’ to be placed inside the cathedral in honour of key workers and those who are sacrificing so much to keep the country safe during the pandemic.
Church goers, school children and volunteers from the Yorkshire Air Ambulance hand folded the 10,000 angels, which were hoisted by 24 volunteers in a huge net 50 feet above the Nave of the cathedral.
Since the launch, the project has raised an impressive £130,000 for both Ripon Cathedral and the YAA. The money raised will be used to offset the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on cathedral visitor donations and YAA fundraising events– sources of income on which the Cathedral and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance rely.
The project opened for the first time to the general public on Saturday 1st August, welcoming an impressive 500 visitors over the first weekend.
Linda Stead, North Yorkshire Regional Fundraiser for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: “This is a project very close to our charity’s heart and with event cancellations and fundraising activities on hold, YAA needs all the support we can get to keep both of our helicopters in the air and flying across the region.
We have been overwhelmed by the support the Wing and a Prayer project has received over the last few months and the money raised will help tremendously towards the vital funding of our service. We would like to thank everyone who has donated to the project and Ripon Cathedral for their continued support. We would also like to thank all of the volunteers who help fold the angels.”
The free exhibition is open every day until the 29th September following a special service of thanksgiving on Sunday 27th September, the feast of St Michael and All Angels.
Read more about the angels at Ripon Cathedral HERE.