General

Family and friends of a 22-year-old girl, tragically killed after a horse riding accident, have raised nearly £10,000 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance after a marathon mountain challenge.

Georgina Lockey, was flown by the rapid response emergency charity to Leeds General Infirmary after being thrown from her horse near the Shibden Mill Inn, Halifax, on August 18, 2013.

The popular former Hipperholme and Lightcliffe High School student, suffered a devastating brain injury in the accident.

Despite the efforts of medical staff her brain damage was so severe, her parents made the heartbreaking decision to switch off her life support two days later.

Since her death Georgina’s family and friends have been fund raising for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Cousin Laura Fairbank said: “Without the YAA’s speed, care and ability to reach Georgina in the remote rural location, she may not have been given the fighting chance in hospital.

“Her family may not have had the chance to say their goodbyes and for her to give life to others by becoming an organ donor.”

Earlier this month Laura joined Georgina’s sisters Annabel and Suzie, cousin Claire Nixon and nine close friends to tackle the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge.

The 13 girls battled gale force winds, rain, hail and snow to complete the ascent of Whernside, Pen-y-ghent and Ingleborough in under 12 hours.

Annabel, 18, from Northowram, said: “Georgie loved walking and being outside and she would have loved to have done the Three Peaks Challenge.

“It was very very tough but we have just been amazed by how much support we’ve received. We originally aimed to raise £5,000 but have so far received almost twice that.”

The YAA is an independent charity providing a rapid response emergency service to five million people across Yorkshire – England’s largest region. It needs to raise £12,000 each day to keep its two helicopters flying.

On average the Yorkshire Air Ambulance attends over 1000 missions each year which is an average 3 missions every single day.

Since nursery nurse Georgina’s death, her family and friends have now raised over £20,000 for the YAA from a range of events including a fashion show, tea parties and 10K run.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance Regional Fundraising Manager Kerry Garner said: “Georgina’s family and friends are truly amazing. They have done so much for us since Georgina’s accident and we are incredibly grateful.”

Charlotte Leighton has extra reason to celebrate riding at the Equi-Trek Bramham International Horse Trials as the event has chosen the Yorkshire Air Ambulance as its chosen charity for 2015.

Nine years ago Charlotte’s life was saved by the rapid response emergency charity after being knocked down by a car outside her home in Tollerton, near York.

She was flown to Leeds General Infirmary in ten minutes – a journey that would have taken around 40 minutes by road. “If I had gone by land ambulance it might have been too late,” said Charlotte, now 19.

She was left with multiple fractures to her forehead, eye sockets, jaw and leg and underwent pioneering facial reconstruction surgery.

The hairdresser and beautician is still undergoing treatment – with an operation in August that will involve breaking her upper jaw and putting in a titanium plate before bone grafting and implants.

But Charlotte’s injuries have never stopped her from living life to the full. She took up horse riding at the age of 12 and, with younger sister Serena, regularly competes in show jumping events across the country.

Charlotte and Serena, 15, are part of a four-strong showjumping team from York and Ainsty South Pony Club taking part in the Equi-Trek Bramham International Horse Trials between June 11-14. Other members are Holly Clayden and Nick Ireland.

Proud Mum Sue said: “Everyone gives so generously to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance because it’s a service that’s here for us.

“You never know when you are going to need it and it’s always there when you do. We never thought we would need the air ambulance but if it wasn’t for them, Charlotte would not be here today.”

Charlotte – now a registered volunteer for the YAA – and her family and friends have raised over £200,000 for the helicopter heroes that saved her life.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance needs to raise £12.000 every day to keep its two helicopters in the air, which is equivalent to £4.4 million a year.

Without any direct government funding, the only help the charity receives is through the secondment of its paramedics from the Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

Thousands of people are expected at Bramham over the four action-packed days to watch eventing, show jumping, showing, young stock classes and Pony Club activities as well as enjoying family attractions and 160 trade stands.

Charlotte said: “Bramham is such a fantastic event and it’s such an honour to compete there, to ride in that arena, with all the surrounding stalls and marquees.

“It’s a very special atmosphere and I’m just delighted that they have chosen the Yorkshire Air Ambulance as its charity this year.”

The online Bramham Box Office is now open and booking in advance qualifies you for discounted tickets and free car parking.  Visit www.bramham-horse.co.uk for full prices and how to book.

Photo: Charlotte Leighton with her horse Hector who will be competing at the Bramham International Horse Trials next month. She is also pictured in hospital after her car accident.

In fact, their latest charity event, a ‘Sparkling Afternoon Tea’ at St George’s Court, Old Home Farm, High Grantley, near Ripon, proved such a sell-out success that the ladies have now netted £11,500 in total for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

St George’s Court’s Lindsey and William Hitchen, long-standing members of Farm Stay UK, the national group of on-farm accommodation providers, hosted the event, helped by ladies from Farm Stay’s Dales and Bronte group and others across to the Yorkshire moors and coast.

Two years ago, the Yorkshire region created a recipe book celebrating 30 years of Farm Stay UK, choosing to raise funds for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance from proceeds of the book’s sale.

Five hundred copies were originally printed and over 3,500 books have now been sold. Funds have also been boosted by charity fund-raisers, when the ladies have served up some fantastic farmhouse fayre, much of it featuring locally produced food.

Yorkshire Farm Stay Chairman Lisa Preston, of Pickersgill Manor Farm, Silsden, said: “We were very close to our target of £10,000 before the St George’s Court event, but to break through the barrier and, in fact, raise considerably more, is a fantastic achievement.

“A total of 126 people turned out to support us and we cannot thank them enough, along with our generous band of sponsors, We are now looking forward to presenting the cheque to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.”

Keynote sponsors included Barclays, Pinnies and Pearls, of Harrogate, Paynes Dairy in Boroughbridge, Taylors of Harrogate, Pickering-based HPE Print and Cooking Fantastic, of Killinghall.

Rob Dixon from York based Pilotwise has produced ten sets of bespoke FRCs (Flight Reference Cards) for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance helicopters.  

They are of a fantastic quality and an excellent enhancement to the manner in which we conduct flight operations.  FRCs are used throughout the aviation industry and contain all the checks required to operate our aircraft in both Normal and Emergency scenarios.  

Presentation and accessibility of this information is key to resolving problems in a safe and effective manner.  Crews have already started rehearsing these drills in their morning briefs. 

Here is Paul presenting the FRC's to our Chief Pilot, Andy Lister along with paramedics Tony Wilkes & Andy Armitage. 

The donation of £944,254 was made by Yorkshire Building Society based on deposits placed in its Yorkshire Air Ambulance affinity savings accounts over the past year.

It will contribute towards the Charity’s plans for a future replacement helicopter and takes the total donated by the Society to YAA since 2007 to more than £2 million.

Gary Lacey, Yorkshire Building Society Savings Product Manager, said: “Yorkshire Building Society is committed to supporting good causes where our members and colleagues live and work. To have been responsible for the largest ever donation to the YAA is something the Society is very proud of.

“We are delighted to be able to help such a vital service as Yorkshire Air Ambulance, which is close to the hearts of many of our members in the region.”

 Peter Sunderland, Chairman of the YAA, said: “This is the largest, single donation the Charity has ever received and we are overwhelmed by the support of the Society. 

“We are currently looking at provisions for a future replacement helicopter for one of our current aircraft, so these monies will significantly contribute towards the reserves we are starting to build to cover these costs.”

Katie Collinson, Partnerships Manager for the YAA, added: “We are really happy to have the support from Yorkshire Building Society and its customers and this donation of £944,254 is an amazing amount of money.

“We would like to extend our thanks to Yorkshire Building Society for choosing to support the life-saving work of the YAA and also to all the customers who chose to open a YAA account.”

Yorkshire Air Ambulance is an independent charity that currently flies around 1,200 missions a year and provides a rapid response air emergency service to 5 million people across 4 million acres of Yorkshire. The charity has to raise £12,000 every day, which equates to £4.4 million a year, to keep both of Yorkshire's air ambulances in the air and relies on donations from individuals and organisations to meet this demand.

The YAA affinity accounts are no longer on sale but donations will continue to be made based on existing deposits and existing accounts will have the option to roll over.

The rapid response emergency charity has bought 14 pairs of specialist medical shears following the grant of £912 from the Trust, a grant-making charity that supports community projects in the Craven area.

The state-of-the-art Leatherman Raptor shears are designed for use by military medics and emergency rescue services. They can quickly and safely cut through materials including seat belts and motorbike leathers.

YAA Paramedic Al Day said: “We are really very grateful for the donation that has meant we can upgrade this vital piece of equipment.

“The shears we had were in need of replacement and we now have excellent kit which will enable us to save vital seconds at the scene of major trauma incidents.”

The Craven Trust has been supporting community-based projects, organisations and individuals in the Craven area for nearly 20 years.

Chairman Mark Facer said: “The Craven Trust is delighted to be able to support the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and contribute towards the cost of the medical shears.

“We cover some of the remotest parts of Yorkshire and the Air Ambulance is invaluable in providing rescue services in those areas’.

YAA is an independent charity providing a rapid response emergency service to five million people across Yorkshire – England’s largest region. It needs to raise £12,000 each day to keep its two helicopters flying.

Without any direct government funding, the only help the charity receives is through the secondment of its paramedics from the Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

Is it a car? Is it a helicopter? No it’s a ‘helivan’ that will be taking to the roads of England, France and Spain next month.

Driving instructor Robert Scott has spent weeks converting a 15 year-old Mercedes Vito Minibus into the distinctive yellow Yorkshire Air Ambulance helicopter – complete with rotor blades!

He will be joining more than 200 cars taking part in this year’s Benidorm or Bust rally from Blackpool to Benidorm with Top Gear-style challenges along the way.

The 1,700-mile route takes drivers over four days from Blackpool to Dover, then from Calais to Poitiers, through Bordeaux and over the Pyrenees to Zaragoza before ending in the popular Costa Blanca resort.

Robert, from Hunmanby, near Filey, is hoping to raise £12,000 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA). He said: “I know people who have had to be airlifted to hospital and it is such a great charity providing a life saving service for people in Yorkshire.

“I’ve done the Benidorm or Bust before and it’s a great few days. We’ve spent a lot of hours making a steel frame to go on the roof, the rotor blades and creating the fiberglass helicopter tail. It’s been spray painted yellow and branded up and looks great.”

Robert, 45, has already raised thousands through the sale of raffle tickets to win a new Suzuki Swift car from Scarborough’s GT Garages who have also provided a demo car over the last 10 months to help promote tickets sales and sponsorship.

The HGV and car instructor has now become a registered volunteer for the YAA. He added: “We’ve had so much support from a range of local companies who have given us their services and time free of charge. It’s been incredible and we can’t thank them enough.”

Supporters include Boro Tyres of Scarborough and All Signs in Bridlington and major sponsors include Castle Howard, Sledmere House, Morrisons and Sainsburys.
Robert was helped create the ‘Heli-Heroes’ helivan by team members Mick Hammond, Howard Cowton and Jeremy Brambles.

They will be joined on the Benidorm or Bust start-line on May 6 by three other cars raising money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. They include Vicky Turner and dairy farmer Mark Stephenson from Old Malton who will be driving Daisy the Robin Reliant – AKA Mad Cow.

The YAA is an independent charity providing a rapid response emergency service to five million people across Yorkshire – England’s largest region. It needs to raise £12,000 each day to keep its two helicopters flying.

Without any direct government funding, the only help the charity receives is through the secondment of its paramedics from the Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

Up to a million spectators are expected to line the routes of the three stages taking place over the May Bank Holiday weekend.

Following the success of arrangements made during last year’s Tour de France, the Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) has again brought in a third aircraft which will be hangered at the charity’s Northern airbase at RAF Topcliffe, near Thirsk.

The YAA had its busiest ever weekend during last year’s Tour de France weekend attending over 30 incidents in three days. On a normal weekend, crews may respond to three or four call-outs.

YAA Chief Pilot Capt Andy Lister said: “We know from the amazing success of the Tour de France last year just how popular this first Tour de Yorkshire is likely to be and how much extra operational pressure that may lead to.  Not only that, it is also a Bank Holiday weekend so we are also likely to see an increase in tourists to the area too.

“Working with the Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, we have managed to provide extra staff cover so we can bring in a third helicopter for the weekend to give us increased support.”

The first 174KM stage of the Tour de Yorkshire will take riders from Bridlington to Scarborough on Friday. The following day’s stage from Selby to York is for the sprinters with the final stage from Wakefield to Leeds featuring six classified and brutal climbs.

The YAA is an independent charity providing a rapid response emergency service to five million people across Yorkshire – England’s largest region. It needs to raise £12,000 each day to keep its two helicopters flying.

Without any direct government funding, the only help the charity receives is through the secondment of its paramedics from the Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

Yorkshire cricketing legend Geoff Boycott will be the special guest at a Charity golf day for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

The former Yorkshire and England cricketer and commentator is an avid supporter of the rapid response emergency Charity, which has to raise £9,990 a day to keep is two helicopters flying.

Mr Boycott will also be taking part in a live Q & A session in the evening prior to dinner with the guests.

One of the distinctive yellow aircraft, based on the nearby Nostell Priory estate, should also be making an appearance at the Normanton Golf Club, Hatfield Hall, on June 25, subject to operational requirements on the day.

The event is being organised by Yorkshire Air Ambulance Pilot and keen golfer Capt Andy Hall who said: “In any week of the Summer, one of our helicopters will attend a golf course somewhere in Yorkshire.

“We are delighted that Geoffrey Boycott has agreed to be our special guest and make the presentations at the end of what should be a great day.

“This is our first Charity golf day at Normanton. It’s an opportunity to play golf on a superb course, network, promote your business and help us raise much needed funds.”

A maximum of 22 teams can take part in the Stableford Four Ball competition with a Shotgun start. Entry is £50 per person or £200 per team which includes course fees,  pre-tee-off food and drinks, carvery dinner and awards ceremony, evening entertainment, plus the chance to win some great prizes. 

For more information about entering a team and sponsorship opportunities please contact Andy Hall on 07415 950762 or email a.hall@yaa.org.uk.

In June 2013 Michael Wood suffered severe multiple injuries after being thrown from his horse while riding near his home at Boltby, near Thirsk.

The 56 year-old was airlifted by the Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) to the James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough where he spent more than a week fighting for his life in intensive care.

“Bramham is a wonderful event and I’m delighted they have chosen the Yorkshire Air Ambulance which provides such a vital service for the horse riding community.

“When you do have a fall you are likely to be in a pretty inaccessible area for road ambulances to reach you.

“The service provided by the crew and paramedics is amazing and since my accident I have become only too aware of the support for the air ambulance service amongst horse riders throughout Yorkshire.”

Since his accident entrepreneur Michael has raised more than £21,000 for the rapid response emergency charity that helped save his life.

Most of that came from a large fund raising party held at his Grade 11 listed home and Michael is also donating proceeds from a book he has written about his life and experience.  

He was honoured last year by the YAA with a special Supporters Award at the charity’s annual Recognition Awards.

The Equi-Trek Bramham International Horse Trials is Yorkshire’s largest equestrian event and takes place over four action packed days between June 11-14.

Event Director Nicholas Pritchard said: “We’re looking forward to working with the YAA and hope we can raise a significant amount for this amazing charity.  Any of us could need their services one day so let’s hope our visitors are as generous as ever.”

Thousands of people are expected to watch eventing, show jumping, showing, young stock classes and Pony Club activities as well as enjoying family attractions and 160 trade stands.

The online Box Office is now open and booking in advance qualifies you for discounted tickets and free car parking.  Visit www.bramham-horse.co.uk for full prices and how to book.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance has transported over 6,000 people and needs to raise £9,990 every day to keep its two helicopters in the air –  equivalent to £3.6 million a year.

Without any direct government funding, the only help the YAA receives is through the secondment of its paramedics from the Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust.