Rebecca Selkirk

From Fields to Funds: Knaresborough Tractor Run Raises £113k for Yorkshire Air Ambulance

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The Knaresborough Tractor Run organisers have celebrated a major donation milestone at a cheque presentation event hosted at the Yorkshire Air Ambulance Nostell Airbase in Wakefield.

What started from humble beginnings has since become a beloved annual tradition within the community, with hundreds of people travelling from far and wide to line the roads and watch the impressive display of over 370 tractors in action.

The North Yorkshire-based event is now considered one of the UK’s largest tractor run, with all proceeds going to the life-saving emergency service, Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Since the first tractor run in 2012, which recorded just eleven tractors taking part, the organisation has donated an impressive £113,341 to the charity.

As a thank you for their longstanding support, the Knaresborough Tractor Run logo now has pride of place on the charity’s newest helicopters.

back of helicopter

Regional Fundraising Manager, Linda Stead, said, “Celebrating the fantastic £113K fundraising milestone donated by the Knaresborough Tractor Run over the years is such an incredible achievement, and we are truly grateful for the support we have received.

 The Yorkshire Air Ambulance relies on the generous donations we receive to keep our helicopters maintained and in the air, so events like the Knaresborough Tractor Run are invaluable to us. We want to say a huge thank you to all of the organisers, participants, and supporters of the event for their dedication and generosity over the years in helping us to continue to save lives across Yorkshire.”

The Knaresborough Tractor Run, which was founded by members of Knaresborough Young Farmers, included Mike Spink, who was passionate about supporting the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. However, in 2017, Mike tragically passed away in a road accident in New Zealand, where he had relocated six months prior.

To honour his memory, the organisers of the tractor run decided to expand the run into the large-scale fundraiser known today. What was previously a casual gathering of tractors in Tan Hill and Whitby, became a more significant affair, and a heart-warming way to remember Mike and support a vital cause.

One of the event organisers, James Parker, said, ‘We are thrilled to support the Yorkshire Air Ambulance once again. From our very first planning meeting, we knew that YAA was the charity we wanted to support, given their vital role in our rural community. We have seen first-hand the incredible work they do, and we are proud to be raising funds to ensure that they can continue to deliver on their promise of helping to save lives.

 It’s a cause that’s close to our hearts, and we know that many of our participants, as well as their friends and families, have benefited from YAA’s services. We hope that our efforts will make a meaningful difference in helping YAA to continue their life-saving work’.

Click here to read more YAA News.

Cycling Group, including 2 Air Ambulance ex-patients, Tackle 275k ‘Chase the Sun’ biking Challenge

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The Bishop Monkton Next Challenge Cycling Club (BMNCCC is gearing up for an extraordinary cycling adventure as they prepare to take on the Chase the Sun Italy 2023 challenge to raise vital funds for Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

The passionate cyclists will embark on a demanding 275-kilometre journey across Italy, starting from the east coast at sunrise and climbing to a 3300-metre elevation at the journeys peak, before reaching the west coast prior to sunset.

The motivation behind this ambitious adventure is deeply personal for the BMNCCC group, as two of their members have experienced first-hand the critical medical assistance provided by Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Ollie Coughlan, aged just 39 at the time, suffered a cardiac arrest in March 2018. He received immediate aid from his friends at the time who were able to use a local defibrillator in an attempt to restart his heart whilst they waited for the emergency services. Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s crew swiftly arrived at the scene in their Rapid Response Vehicle, used during poor flying conditions, and playing a vital role in his successful outcome.

More recently in January 2022, Ben Cairns, who works for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and regularly works with the Yorkshire Air Ambulance team, was involved in a cycling accident in a remote area of North Yorkshire, resulting in a broken hip, femur and ribs. Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s crew swiftly arrived at his aid, securing his leg, and flying him to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, where he received emergency surgery.

Scene of a bike accident with emergency services
Yorkshire Air Ambulance rushes to the aid of Ben Cairns after a cycling accident, providing critical care and airlifting him to hospital for emergency surgery.

Initially setting a two-thousand-pound fundraising target, the group has exceeded their goal in just two months, with donations from over 65 supporters. With 16 days still to go until the ambitious ride, the group are setting their fundraising goals sky high to make an even more substantial contribution to the emergency services charity.

Reflecting on his life-changing experience and the charity that aided him, Ollie said, “I will be forever grateful for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance crew’s fast response on the day of my accident. Now, I am determined to give back by actively fundraising for the charity, ensuring they can continue their life-saving work for others in need too’.

Ben adds, “We invite everyone to join us in this incredible journey by donating to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. None of us know when we might need their assistance, so let’s stand together and give back to this truly important charity.”

The cyclists will proudly don specially made orange bike jerseys, sponsored by Albion Cycling, featuring a holographic ‘Proud to be Supporting YAA’ logo, throughout their ride. Additionally, the group will be actively documenting their ride, capturing and sharing real-time pictures and videos and check-ins, for all their supporters to feel a part of their experience.

cycling jersey
The cyclists will proudly don specially made orange bike jerseys, sponsored by Albion Cycling.

Linda Stead, Regional Fundraising Manager at Yorkshire Air Ambulance, expressed her gratitude, saying, “We extend our heartfelt thanks to the cyclists for their incredible support and dedication. This epic ride is not only a test of their endurance and determination but also a heartfelt initiative. Their fundraising efforts will help us continue flying across Yorkshire and saving lives.”

To contribute to the BMNCCC group’s fundraising efforts, visit their JustGiving page. Every donation will go towards ensuring the continuation of the vital service.

Click here to read more YAA News 

Yorkshire Air Ambulance thrill local communities with rare four helicopter formation flight

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Yorkshire Air Ambulance, the renowned emergency response charity, made waves on social media this week with a remarkable sight in the skies above Wakefield and York.

 

Traditionally operating two helicopters, Yorkshire Air Ambulance recently took delivery of their two new state-of-the-art H145 D3 helicopters G-YORX and G-YAAA.  They will replace current models G-YOAA and G-YAAC, which are currently in the process of being sold to an undisclosed buyer.  During a fleeting cross over period of the arrival of the new helicopters and departure of G-YOAA, which leaves Yorkshire first, a unique, but brief opportunity presented for the team of pilots to capture the rare occasion where all four were in Yorkshire.

 

Seizing the opportunity, the crew took the four helicopters on a brief flight, incorporating some training & familiarisation for the Pilots & Technical Crew Members (TCM’s), treating onlookers to a unique and rare display.

 

Chief Pilot Owen McTeggart, who was part of the formation, expressed his excitement about the opportunity, saying, “We have eagerly awaited the arrival of G-YORX, our second D3 helicopter, which will further improve our service in saving lives across Yorkshire.  We needed to take the new helicopters out for some brief training and familiarisation so we took the opportunity to capture what may be a one-time occurrence of having a cross-over of four YAA helicopters, before G-YOAA and G-YAAC leave for their new home. Witnessing the community’s overwhelming response and support, and the countless photos shared fills our team with pride and gratitude. We are truly humbled by the generosity and dedication shown by the people we serve.“

 

The new D3 helicopters boast a whole host of technologically advanced features, most noticeably, a five-bladed ridged main rotor, making the system simpler, lighter, and easier to maintain than the previous rotor. The five-bladed rotor system also significantly reduces felt vibrations, improving ride quality for both patients and the crew.

 

The flight drew widespread attention from residents in Wakefield, Pontefract, York, and surrounding areas, who spotted the four helicopters flying in formation across, what were picture-perfect clear blue skies. Captivated by this awe-inspiring display, members of the community captured the moment and flooded Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s Facebook post about the flight with over 3,000 likes, 400 comments, and 500 shares, emphasising the profound impact this had on those fortunate enough to witness it.

 

The overwhelming response serves as a testament to the deep-rooted appreciation for the life-saving services provided by the charity. One person commented ‘Awesome sight to see. I heard them before I saw them. Keep up the great work, Yorkshire Air Ambulance. We’d be lost without you guys’ whilst another remarked, ‘I saw them fly right over my house, it was quite a sight to behold. What a job these guys do…I for one cannot thank the team enough!’.

 

To read more YAA News click here. 

Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s Flagship Leeds Pop-up Shop Soars High with £50K in Sales

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The Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s flagship high-street pop-up shop located in St Johns Shopping Centre, Leeds, has hit an impressive £50,000 in sales since opening its doors in January 2020. This impressive milestone is a testament to the generosity and support of the local community, whose donations and purchases help fund the charity’s life-saving missions.

In 2022, the shop raised an impressive £25,000 and has continued to make a significant contribution to the charity in 2023. Within the first three months of this year alone, the shop has raised a fantastic £11,500, with shoppers showing no signs of slowing down.

Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Yorkshire Air Ambulance pop-up shop has managed to attract regular supporters, demonstrating the community’s unwavering commitment to supporting this worthy cause.

Located on the ground floor, just by the escalators, the shop is open from 10 am to 3 pm every Wednesday and Friday, with alternating Saturdays, and sells a wide range of items donated by members of the public. These include official Yorkshire Air Ambulance merchandise, hand-knitted baby and children’s clothes, adult & children’s clothing, books, children’s toys, bric-a-brac, records, and DVDs, among other interesting items.

The shop is led by Community Fundraiser Clare Deacon, who has a team of dedicated volunteers helping her throughout the week. Clare said, ‘We’re thrilled to have reached this milestone and want to thank everyone who has donated, volunteered, or made a purchase from our shop – Every penny raised goes directly towards funding our life-saving missions, it’s a testament to the generous community spirit we have here in Yorkshire.

With such a diverse range of items available, our shop is a great place to find a bargain and support a good cause at the same time. So why not pop in and have a look around? You never know what treasures you might find!’.

Centre Manager, Jenny Murphy, said, ‘We are incredibly pleased to see the YAA pop-up shop at St. Johns Shopping Centre having so much success. The store is always so busy and the team of volunteers are just brilliant with their customers, so to hear of them reaching this impressive milestone is not a surprise. I wish them every continued success in their sales for the rest of this year’.

Couple Takes on KA-razy Fundrasing Tour to Raise Money for Yorkshire Air Ambulance in Son’s Memory

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Audrey and Sean Duxbury have taken on the London to Lisbon, Two Ball Rally, in memory of their late son Joshua Duxbury who passed away following a motorcycle accident in 2016.

On 8th October 2016, Joshua, aged 21 at the time, was travelling to work as a Chef at his mother’s popular café, Route 59 in Skipton,  when he sadly lost his life in a road collision with a Lorry.. The Yorkshire Air Ambulance crew were dispatched to the scene, however, sadly Joshua had died on impact.

Audrey and Sean are now keen to continue their son’s memory by fundraising and supporting the emergency response charity, Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

The couple considered many traditional ways to fundraise, but after learning about the ‘Two Ball Rally’ tour, they knew it would have been something Joshua would have loved, and didn’t hesitate for a moment to sign up. With a strict budget of £800 as per the rally rules, Audrey and Sean purchased their 58’ plate Ford KA and began decorating it in a golf buggy theme, in homage to the last activity they ever did with their son.

The couple, who are driving as team ‘Underpar’ are documenting their journey on social media and will be dressing in different golfing attire for each leg of their trip ranging from traditional 30’s, 50’s, 70’s, 90’s and modern-day dress.

The duo set off on their trip on the 5th of April from Joshua’s favorite football club, Blackburn Rovers to make their way down to the official start of the race at the famous Brands Hatch circuit.. Joining over 37 other rally drivers at the starting line, Audrey and Sean were met by Joshua’s Aunt and Uncle who will also be partaking in the rally in a duck-themed car.

Travelling from Brands Hatch race circuit, the convoy will travel via Le Mans, Bordeaux, Burgos, and Braga, before finishing the tour in Lisbon. Upon arrival at each destination, the rally group will take part in fun challenges to collect points, and win spot prizes, all adding to the sense of adventure.

Supporters have so far donated £450 via Audrey and Sean’s Just Giving page. The married couple, who will celebrate their 38th wedding anniversary on the day they arrive in Lisbon, hope to celebrate by reaching their fundraising target of £1500.

Audrey, who is currently restoring Joshua’s Motorbike as part of her personal therapy, said, ‘We knew when we set out on this challenge that it would be a great way to honour our son, sharing in his passion for motor rallies, as he completed a tour of Dublin’s coastline before he passed away. We are certain he would have laughed at our fancy dress costumes too! Thank you to everyone who has donated to us, it means the world that we can remember Joshua whilst also supporting a charity that is so close to our hearts’.

When speaking of his fundraising efforts, Sean said, ‘Thank you to everyone who has donated so far, we miss our son every single day and doing this European tour means so much to us. Not only has the Yorkshire Air Ambulance touched our lives very closely, but many of our regulars from our Café, which is really well supported by the motorcycle community, have required it too. We hope our donation will help towards the cost of saving more lives around Yorkshire’.

North Yorkshire Regional Fundraiser, Tessa Klemz, said, ‘We are incredibly grateful to Audrey and Sean for their fantastic fundraising efforts in memory of their son, it sounds like a brilliant adventure, and I know it means so much to them. Their dedication and generosity will help us continue providing life-saving care to those most need it. We cannot thank them enough for their support and for making a difference in the lives of others’.