General

Julie Homar from Bessacar, Doncaster, was driving back from a week in Whitby with her boyfriend when the accident happened in January 2012.

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance airlifted the 24 year-old to hospital but despite the efforts of paramedics she later died from her injuries.

Julie’s heartbroken family have held two walks in her memory and are appealing for as many people as possible to take part in the ‘Walk For Julie’ on Sunday, April 26, at Lakeside.

All money raised will be split between the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and St Francis Church, Bessacarr.

Mark Perry, Fundraiser for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance said: “Julie’s family are a real inspiration to everyone and should be proud of everything they have done in Julie’s memory.  We would like to encourage as many people as possible to get involved in this walk and wish everyone the best of luck on the day.”

The event is being supported by Doncaster hero, Lance Bombardier Ben Parkinson, who lost both legs in a landmine blast while serving in Afghanistan.

The former soldier went to the same school as Julie and is hoping to join family, friends and supporters at the start of the three-mile walk.

Julie graduated just six months before the crash and was enjoying her first teaching job at Mexborough Montagu Primary School.

Her cousin Matt Kerley said: “Julie was a keen charity fundraiser herself, dedicating five years of her life taking part in charity fundraising challenges including a visit to Gambia to help disadvantaged children.

“She loved walking the dogs around Lakeside and we wanted to raise money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance to thank them for all they did that day to try and save Julie.”

The walk starts at 2pm at Lakeside and everyone is welcome. If you would like to donate money go to the Walk For Julie JustGiving page https://www.justgiving.com/walk4julie/

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance is a rapid response emergency charity providing a life saving service to five million people across the county.

It needs to raise £9,990 every day to keep its two helicopters in the air –  equivalent to £3.6 million a year.

Eight, 2.5m x 2.5m art pieces were commissioned by Harrogate-based interior design specialists The Stephen Neall Group as part of their celebrations to mark last year’s Grand Depart.

Created by artist James Straffon, the mural features legends of the sport including Harrogate’s Harry Binns, Doncaster’s Tommy Simpson and Huddersfield’s Brian Robinson as well as modern day cycling icons Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish.

Last summer, the pieces were mounted onto an outside wall of The Factory building in Harrogate, office and showroom for Group company Poliform North, which sells contemporary Italian furniture, kitchens and bedrooms.

Stephen Neall Group Creative Director and Proprietor Stephen Gee decided to auction the mural with all proceeds split between the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and cycling charity The Dave Rayner Trust Fund.

The unique installation was bought by South Yorkshire-based Dransfield Properties for £50,000 – on the condition that each living cyclist depicted should sign their picture.

Ten months and nearly 1,800 miles later, Stephen completed the challenge with the signature of Belgian cycling icon Eddy Merck.

“It was certainly a challenge, not just getting the agreement of each cyclist but then finding a time and place when the pictures could be signed,” said Stephen, whose late father Alan was a member of the Leeds Kirkgate Cycling Club.

“After one unsuccessful attempt to get Mark Cavendish to sign his picture at Manchester Velodrome, we drove to Ghent in Belguim where he signed it in the lobby of his hotel.

“It was a remarkable adventure and such an honour to be in the company of cycling greats past and present.

“I’m delighted we have been able to donate so much to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, a charity that provides such a vital service here in Yorkshire.”

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance is a rapid response emergency charity providing a life saving service to five million people across the county.

It needs to raise £9,990 every day to keep its two helicopters in the air –  equivalent to £3.6 million a year.

YAA North Yorkshire Fundraising Manager Tony Doveston said: “We have worked closely with Stephen and Poliform North over a number of years and particularly during last year’s Tour de France.

“He is a fantastic supporter of the charity and we can’t thank him enough for this incredible donation.”

The giant portraits have been bought my Mark Dransfield, Managing Director of Barnsley-based Dransfield Properties.

The artwork will be permanently displayed at the company’s landmark Fox Valley development in North Sheffield when it opens in Spring 2016 – but for now have been installed at its Penistone 1 head office building.

Mark said: “We are delighted to support these two great causes and we are very proud to be guardians of these nine fantastic pieces of art.

“Our long term plan for the pieces is for them to be displayed in the new Full Gas Bike shop which is opening next year at our Fox Valley development in north Sheffield and where they can be enjoyed by everyone.”

Fixing the aerial nearly ended in tragedy for South Yorkshire construction worker Gary Young when an undiagnosed brain aneurysm burst.

The father-of-two collapsed while on the roof and fell around 30ft into the garden of the family home in Thorne.

Gary broke nearly every rib and also punctured a lung in the horror fall, but miraculously survived, largely medics believe because he was unconscious when he landed.

The 52 year-old was airlifted to the Northern General Hospital, Sheffield, by the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and his grateful daughter Rachel has now become a volunteer for the rapid response emergency charity.

“I can’t thank the air ambulance enough for everything they did for us that day,” said 24 year-old Rachel from Park View, Thorne.

“They were just amazing. Because of the nature of his injuries and the amount of pain my Dad was in, he had to get to hospital as quick as possible and a road journey would have been out of the question.

“I felt I just had to do something to thank the charity and becoming a volunteer is a great way to help to raise money and awareness about the work of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.”

Gary’s brain injury was only diagnosed in hospital where he spent over two weeks in intensive care following surgery to clip the ruptured aneurysm.

The extent of his rib fractures and punctured lung meant he was on a ventilator for a week and was fitted with a body brace to help his shattered ribs begin to heal.

That was exactly a year ago and Gary is still struggling physically and emotionally. Rachel added: “My Dad is still in a lot of pain as some of the ribs have not healed properly.

“From someone who was such a hard worker, always on the go, Dad can’t really walk that far now and just has so little energy.

“I think he has been suffering from post traumatic stress. He’s not sleeping because he’s aware he has the aneurysm and he’s scared of falling asleep in case he doesn’t wake up. It’s been very hard for him.”

Rachel, an administrator with Redline Aviation Security at Robin Hood Airport, is calling on people to join her by becoming a volunteer for Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

The rapid response emergency charity – which has to raise £9,990 every day to keep its two helicopters in the air –  is appealing for more volunteers in South Yorkshire to run stalls and attend local events.

South Yorkshire Regional Fundraiser Mark Perry said: “We are asked to attend lots of events throughout the year and can’t cover this increasing demand without the support of our brilliant volunteers.

"It’s also important that we’re out more in local communities answering questions about the charity, telling people what we do, and why their support is so vital.

"Being a volunteer is a really great way to get out and about in your local area and meet people. You would be part of a fantastic team and you can do as little or as much as you want, to fit in with your lifestyle.”

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or would like to find out more contact Mark on 077681 75727 or email him at m.perry@yaa.org.uk.

The Wetherby Whaler fish and chip restaurants and takeaways in Yorkshire have raised £4,000 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Customers at Wetherby Whaler’s five branches across Yorkshire, which are in Guiseley, Pudsey, Wetherby, York and Wakefield, have been donating their loose change to collection tins in the restaurants, which has amounted to the impressive sum.  

The cheque was handed over to Kerry Garner, West Yorkshire Regional Fundraiser for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) and Carrie Cheeseman, who was rescued by the YAA following a horrific accident in 2009.

Carrie and her two children, Maxwell, now 8, and Scarlett, who was nine-months-old at the time of the accident, were hit by a car near their home in Morley. Carrie was subsequently airlifted to hospital by the charity.  

Carrie suffered multiple serious injuries and, in what was already a traumatic year, Carrie’s husband-to-be, Stephen, also had the Yorkshire Air Ambulance called to him when he came off his bike while training for a triathlon – although on that occasion the Charity’s services were not required to transfer him to hospital.

The Wetherby Whaler adopted the Yorkshire Air Ambulance as its chosen charity in 2011 and has since raised nearly £10,000 for the iconic Yorkshire rapid response emergency service through collection tins.

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance is an independent charity that provides a rapid response air emergency service to 5 million people across 4 million acres of Yorkshire. The charity has to raise £9,990 every day, which equates to £3.6 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.

Phillip Murphy, Owner of The Wetherby Whaler, said: “The Yorkshire Air Ambulance does fantastic life-saving work across Yorkshire, so as a Yorkshire-based business, we thought it was only fitting that we show our support. I’d like to say a big thank you to all of our customers who donated their loose change – it’s amazing how a little can add up and go such a long way.”

Kerry Garner, West Yorkshire Regional Fundraiser for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: “The generosity that we receive from the people and businesses of Yorkshire is the lifeblood of the charity and without this support, we would not be able to provide the service that we are so proud of. We are extremely grateful to the Wetherby Whaler and its customers for the very kind and generous donation.”

Carrie Cheeseman said: “It is fantastic that establishments such as The Wetherby Whaler support The Yorkshire Air Ambulance. I, my husband and our two children are extremely grateful for the charity’s amazing crews and the invaluable work that the YAA does across Yorkshire.”

Window cleaner Chris Stoneman is hoping he’s on the ladder to fund raising success.

For the 62-year-old from Woodhouse, Leeds, is aiming to polish off a 1,000-mile marathon bike ride for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Chris became the charity’s 2,000th patient eight years ago when he was airlifted to hospital following a horrific road accident.

He slammed into a wall and broke his neck after his motorbike hit a patch of diesel on the road near Settle, North Yorkshire.

Following a long and painful five-month recovery, Chris decided to hang up his leathers. But he has since taken up road biking and is a keen member of the Airedale Olympic Cycling Club.

“I’m a window cleaner and used to being on the go all the time,” said Chris. “So after the accident when I couldn’t do much I put on quite a lot of weight.

“My son, who had been biking with me when I had the accident, started cycling aswell and we’ve both lost a lot of weight.

“The thing I missed most about biking was the adrenalin rush, but cycling really gives you an incredible buzz and is such a brilliant thing to do.”

Chris is aiming to cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats this July in just 10 days – a challenge that will involve completing nearly 100 miles each day.

The father of two is hoping to raise at least £1,000 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance – the rapid response emergency charity that has now rescued nearly 6,000 people.

“I know it’s going to be really tough cycling 100 miles a day, but we are training hard and I just wanted to do something that would raise money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

“It’s a fantastic charity that provides a life-saving service. Living where we do there are a lot of people who enjoy the countryside by biking, cycling, climbing, going horse riding and walking and you never know when you might need that helicopter.”

Chris has set up a JustGiving page and if you would like to sponsor him, go to https://www.justgiving.com/Chris-Stoneman3/

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance 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.

HRH The Duke of York, KG, has pledged his “wholehearted” support to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

The Duke was speaking as he officially opened the rapid response Charity’s state-of-the-art Air Support Unit on the Nostell Priory Estate, near Wakefield yesterday.

“When you consider the size and extent of Yorkshire, what you are able to deliver on behalf of the county’s citizens is absolutely outstanding,” said the Duke, who is Royal Patron of the YAA.

“Thank you for the service you give come rain or shine because it means so much to the people of Yorkshire.

“I am sure they will continue to give as generously as they have done in the past and support this service which is working on a day to day basis to deliver care across the county.

 “You can be assured of my wholehearted support because I believe totally in this outstanding service.”

The Duke, a former Naval helicopter pilot and instructor, toured the purpose-developed Air Support Unit in the grounds of the Nostell Estate meeting YAA crew, paramedics, supporters and staff.

The YAA relocated from its previous base at Leeds Bradford International Airport in November 2013 to improve coverage and response times to patients in the West and South of the county.

Nostell also boasts a larger helicopter hangar space, overnight crew facilities, a dedicated fuel bowser, helipad and improved office and crew facilities.

Peter Sunderland, YAA Chairman said: “We are absolutely delighted that our Royal Patron, HRH The Duke of York, KG agreed to open our Nostell Air Support Unit.

“The relocation to Nostell is a major step forward for the Charity. It is enhancing our service across the region, improving flying times to all areas and creating an operational overlap in our busiest areas.

“We are extremely proud to have this fabulous facility which helps us to deliver an even better service to the people of Yorkshire.”

Yorkshire Air Ambulance has transported nearly 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.

Carrie Cheeseman is getting ready to wear her wedding dress again – six years after a horrific accident forced her to cancel her big day.

Carrie and her two young children were hit by a car near their Morley home in November 2009 – just a fortnight before she was due to marry.

She suffered horrific, multiple injuries and was air lifted to hospital by the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, spending a month in Leeds General Infirmary and many more painful months recovering at home.

In what was a traumatic year, the air ambulance was also called out to her husband-to-be Stephen who came off his bike while training for a triathlon.

The couple finally walked down the aisle at the Marriott Hotel, Leeds, in August, 2010.  Carrie will be back there in her wedding dress later this year for a wedding-themed fund raising ball for the rapid response emergency charity that helped save her life.

“I wanted to do something as it’s coming up to five years after we married. It’s going to be a fantastic evening and I hope we can raise a lot of money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance,” said 41 year-old Carrie.

“I wanted to hold a ball and my friend, who believe it or not actually hoovers in her wedding dress, suggested the wedding theme.

“So many people just wear their dress once and then it’s bagged up and put away. I’m going to wear my wedding dress – even if it has to be taken out a bit – and hopefully a lot of other women coming to the ball will do the same.”

Carrie was lucky to survive the horrific road accident breaking her neck, back, pelvis, several ribs, both legs, right shoulder blade and her right arm. She also suffered a punctured lung and serious knee ligament damage.

Carrie’s son Maxwell, now 8, received a blow to the head and then nine-month-old Scarlett suffered broken ribs, pelvis and a lacerated liver.

Since then grateful Carrie, Stephen, and her Mum Carol Bradbury from Penistone have been active volunteers and fund raisers for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

 “The air ambulance is something that you just don’t think you will ever need but it is there for everyone,” said Carrie from Topcliffe Court, Morley.

The fund raising ball is being held at the Marriott Hotel, Leeds, on Saturday October 10. The £45 tickets include a three-course meal, welcome drink, DJ and band, casino, raffle and auction.

For more information and to buy tickets please contact Carrie on 07803 821372

Yorkshire Air Ambulance 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.

A new BBC TV series will feature how a Yorkshire woman’s bid to get a better view of the Tour de France nearly ended in tragedy when she fell through a roof.

Sally Hartley was joining other people on the roof of the High Corn Mill, Skipton, to watch the cycling spectacular when she plunged more than 20ft through plastic sheeting.

She hit an iron table before striking her head on the stone flagged floor. Her rescue by the Yorkshire Air Ambulance will be shown during Friday’s episode of the new BBC1 series Countryside 999.

Sally, 49, had gone up on the roof with her daughter Emma and her fall was witnessed below by her other daughter Jessica and two year-old grand-daughter.

“There hay bales up on the roof for people to watch the Tour go past and I asked if my daughter and I could go up,” said Sally who runs a nail and beauty clinic in the High Corn Mill with her partner.

“There were others behind me and I climbed through a window onto a hay bale and then just took two steps and fell straight through the plastic sheeting.”

The nail technician, who was airlifted to Leeds General Infirmary, suffered severe concussion and damaged her lower back but miraculously avoided serious physical injuries.

“I am incredibly lucky in that way,” added Sally from Hawarth. “I did have really bad dizziness and vertigo for a few months after the accident and now have back problems, but the accident has affected be much more mentally.

“I have changed from being a very outgoing and bubbly person to someone who can just burst into tears for no reason. I was having really bad panic attacks and it’s been really hard.

“I am just so grateful for the air ambulance. I don’t remember much immediately after the fall but the paramedics were just amazing.”

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) had the busiest weekend in its 14-year history when the Tour de France passed through Yorkshire last year attending 31 incidents between Friday, July 4 and Sunday, July 6.  

They included airlifting a 14 year-old boy enjoying a cycling weekend in Yorkshire to watch his biking heroes. Henry Wood lost control of his bike at the bottom of a steep hill, plummeted over a bridge and fell around 15 feet onto a stony riverbank.

Henry was bleeding from a head wound, had amnesia and was complaining of back pain and so was flown with worried Mum Jane to Leeds General Infirmary where, fortunately his injuries were not serious.

The grateful teenager from Kenilworth, Warwickshire, is now raising money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance charity that rescued him.

The rapid response emergency charity 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.

Sally and Henry’s rescue will feature on Countryside 999 on Friday, February 20, at 11am on BBC1. The series follows the emergency services in rural Britain who negotiate huge distances, difficult terrain and often dreadful weather to care for and protect the public.

Keen cyclist Henry Wood, 14, had to be airlifted to hospital by the Yorkshire Air Ambulance following the horror crash.

He was in a group with Mum Jane, and step Dad John, cycling to watch his biking heroes in Harrogate when Henry lost control at the bottom of a steep hill, plummeted over a bridge and fell around 15 feet onto a stony riverbank.

The drama will be shown during Friday’s episode of Countryside 999 on BBC1 which follows the work of the emergency services in Britain’s rural areas.

“We had seen the Tour and in particular Mark Cavandish go through Harrogate on the Saturday and were cycling to watch the peleton again on the Sunday,” said Mum Jane.

“We came down a very steep hill and over a bridge. I was at the back and as we were coming up the other side I saw John jump off his bike and run back.

“I then saw Henry lying on the riverbank. It was very very frightening. Henry recognised me but did not know where he was or anything about watching the Tour de France.

“He was bleeding by his helmet and was complaining of pain in his back so we were really worried.”

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) was dispatched and Henry was airlifted to the trauma unit at Leeds General Infirmary where fortunately his injuries were not serious.

Henry is now back in the saddle and is so grateful to the helicopter heroes that rescued him, is planning a fund raising event for the rapid response emergency charity.

“He had concussion and a big cut across his forehead, massive grazing and bruising to his leg but he was really very lucky,” added relieved Mum Jane.

“Henry is really keen to do something to thank the Yorkshire Air Ambulance for what they did that day. It is such a brilliant service.”

The YAA needs to raise £9,990 every day to keep its two helicopters in the air –  equivalent to £3.6 million a year.

Henry’s rescue will feature on Countryside 999 on Friday, February 20, at 11am on BBC1. The series follows the emergency services in rural Britain who negotiate huge distances, difficult terrain and often dreadful weather to care for and protect the public.

Huddersfield Town is still accepting entries for fans to take part in Pedal for Pounds 6, with Chairman Dean Hoyle looking for the ride to hit record numbers!

The deadline to enter the bike ride, which raises funds for the ‘Keep It Up’ campaign, has been extended to Friday 27 February.

There are currently 254 supporters taking part in this season’s bike ride – 42% of which have never taken part in a Pedal for Pounds bike ride before – and Hoyle is targeting the 300 that took part in P4P4. 

The two day ride will start at Victoria Tower on Castle Hill in Almondbury at 10am on Friday 1 May 2015, with that day finishing 70 miles away at Blackpool Tower. 

On Saturday 2 May 2015, after the Terriers’ final game of the Sky Bet Championship season against the Seasiders, the ride will set off from the Bloomfield Road Stadium and cycle back to the John Smith’s Stadium in Huddersfield.

The ride will be 140 miles in total and will see supporters and staff raising funds for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the Huddersfield Town Academy. 

Huddersfield Town Chairman Dean Hoyle commented:

“We’ve reopened Pedal for Pounds 6 for entries in order to beat the record number of riders for one bike ride, which we’re fewer than 50 participants from! 

“It’s great to hear we’ve got lots of first time riders taking part this year; the route was designed with those people in mind. Hopefully we can tempt back some of the veterans to beat the 300 mark, as well as some other first time riders.

“The importance of the ‘Keep It Up’ campaign was really put in focus by the memorable scenes involving our very own Tommy Smith after the Leeds United derby. The Yorkshire Air Ambulance did a superb job at caring for a member of the Huddersfield Town family, which culminated in him being back out on the pitch against Wolves in midweek. 

“Every penny raised through our fundraising campaign helps to keep those life-saving helicopters in the air, as well as funding our Academy. If you can take part, please do so!”

If you would like to take part in the ‘Pedal for Pounds 6’ bike ride, sponsored by Orchard Energy, please download a sign-up form and medical form and return both, along with your £35 registration fee (non-refundable; covers ride cycling jersey, bike and bag tags, ride insurance, ‘I Completed’ t-shirt and water, sandwich and snacks on both days).

Forms can be posted FAO Robyn Deegan, HTAFC, the John Smith’s Stadium, Huddersfield, HD1 6PX or handed in at main reception or the Ticket Office windows. Cheques should be made out to the ‘Keep It Up’ campaign. 

Forms can be downloaded here: http://bit.ly/1L7EmjV