Businesses, community groups and individuals across Yorkshire have united to help the Yorkshire Air Ambulance celebrate their 20th anniversary and have raised an impressive £3,840 for the rapid response charity.
The virtual balloon race commenced on the 19th October and finished on the Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s 20th anniversary on October 25th 2020. Prizes were awarded to first, second and third place balloons and participants were able to watch their balloons race via a virtual balloon race website and share messages with the Charity.
Lydia’s Voyager from the Frobelian School Leeds was the first place prize winner, taking home a £100 B&M voucher, kindly donated by B&M stores. Planet Platforms in Wakefield won the Marley Stir it up Record Player for second place and ICC Group, Wetherby took home third prize which was a generously donated Betty’s Northerallerton gift box. The bonus fourth place prize of a Yorkshire Air Ambulance commemorative 20th Anniversary teddy bear went to Sue Munden for her 9 year old grandson Harry.
Jenny Jones, Regional Fundraising Manager (South and West) for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: “We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who took part in our 20th anniversary virtual balloon race. We were overwhelmed by everyone’s support and it was a great way to celebrate the Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s twentieth year.
It costs £12,000 a day to keep both of our air ambulances maintained and in the air and like many charities across the UK, this year we have been deeply impacted by COVID-19. The money raised from the balloon race will help greatly towards the vital funding of our service and enable us to continue saving lives across the region.”
Thank you to all of our supporters, businesses and community groups who took part in the race, including:
Businesses
Home Instead (Wetherby and Ilkley), CMS Distribution, World of Wyndsors (Chesterfield), Capita Samsung (Leeds), JTF (Leeds), XPO (Bradford), TOG 24, Eastwoods (Elland), Junction 32 Retail Park, Recycling Solutions, LSI (Bradford), Planet Platforms (Wakefield), Bardsey Tree Services, Caravan Guard (Halifax) and ICC Group (Wetherby).
Community Groups
Yorkshire Trikes, Eldwick Village Society, Aire Valley UK, Froebelian School, Gaslight Ukulele Band, 204 Sheffield Guides, Wetherby Wharfedale Rotary Club, Hebden Royd PROBUS Retired Men’s Club, Sowood WI, Trefoil Guild (Keighley, Shipley, York, Hull, Selby, Bridlington, Skipton, Harrogate, Ripon, Knaresborough, Barnsley, Doncaster and Billingham).