A woman seriously injured outside Halifax Piece Hall last year, resulting in the Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) landing in the Grade I listed building’s courtyard, is organising a charity walk on her 80th birthday for her YAA lifesavers.
On 30th January 2020 Loraine Greenwood from Halifax was collecting items for a church coffee morning when she was hit by a bus.
Due to the severity of the injury, the Yorkshire Air Ambulance was dispatched. As the aircraft requires a large landing space, the only place suitable in the town centre was the courtyard of Grade I listed 18th century building, the Piece Hall.
The YAA Critical Care Team made a decision to fly Loraine to Leeds General Infirmary and she spent 10 hours in an operating theatre undergoing reconstructive surgery.
The eight-mile walk organised by Loraine and her close friends for Yorkshire Air Ambulance, which is also open to the public, will take place on Saturday 4th September setting off at 10am from St Matthew’s Church in Northowram. Event organisers are hoping to sell 100 tickets to members of the public.
Tickets for the walk cost £10 for adults, £5 for under 16s and £5 per dog. Included in the tickets are pie and peas at the church afterwards. The pie and pea meal can be pre-ordered for those not taking part on the walk for £5. Closing date for the walk and pie and peas is 28th August 2021 and no further entries will be permitted on the day.
There will also be an opportunity to meet Yorkshire Air Ambulance fundraisers at the walk to ask questions about the charity and learn all about their lifesaving work in the Halifax area.
Speaking of the incident, Loraine said: “I could have lost my leg or my life. I cannot thank the emergency services, the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the doctors and nurses at the hospital enough for everything they have done for me. I’m so grateful that I have a life and I’ll do the best I can with it.”
Event organiser Linda McCormick, said: “Yorkshire Air Ambulance is such an important local charity, and they need all the support they can get to keep them flying across the region and saving lives. We’re looking forward to celebrating Loraine’s 80th birthday and raising vital funds for such a worthwhile cause.”
Vickie Bowden, West Yorkshire Regional Fundraiser for YAA, said: “We would like to thank Loraine and her friends and family for organising this walk.
It costs £12,000 a day to keep both of Yorkshire’s air ambulances maintained and in the air and the money raised will help greatly towards the vital funding of our service.”
To enter the walk contact Linda McCormick on 07733 192864 or download and complete the entry form and return to the address found on the form.