General

Following the success of last year’s Yorkshire Pedalthon event, which raised £15,000 for charity, national property consultancy Carter Jonas is once again planning a second legacy cycling event in the region, and is delighted to announce that The Yorkshire Post will again offer its support as media partner.

Cycling enthusiasts from the business community will take part in Carter Jonas’ own version of the Tour de Yorkshire on Friday 8 May. The Yorkshire Pedalthon 2015 is being co-ordinated by cycling event company, Iconic Cycling Events, will again raise funds for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance as well as LandAid, which supports disadvantaged and vulnerable youngsters in the UK.

Starting and ending at Ripley Castle, riders will have the choice of a 90 mile challenge ride, 70 mile scenic ride or 40 mile social ride.  The 90 mile challenge riders will take on White Horse Bank near Kilburn, one of the country’s top 100 cycle climbs.

Last year’s event attracted more than 67 business teams from across the region and Carter Jonas hopes to exceed that this year.

David Aspland, Carter Jonas’ head of Commercial in the northern region said: “The Yorkshire Pedalthon promises to be a great networking cycling event for enthusiastic cyclists in the business community with the shorter route giving those who want to “have a go” some fun cycling in the spectacular Yorkshire countryside, whilst raising money for charity.  The ride will also showcase the very best of Yorkshire food and drink at feed stations along the route.”

Richard Best from Iconic Cycling Events added: “We are delighted to be working with the team from Carter Jonas and their Yorkshire business network as well as British Cycling and Cycle Yorkshire. Our aim is to capture the essence of Yorkshire in a series of rides which take riders to parts of Yorkshire they may not know.  Starting and finishing at one Yorkshire’s finest stately homes, the event represents a real legacy event of the recent visit of the Tour de France”.

The Carter Jonas Yorkshire Pedalthon is open to both individuals and corporate teams, with individual entry costing £150 and teams of four costing £600 each.

A fantastic 250 people have signed up to take part in the Pedal for Pounds 6 Tower to Tower bike ride in aid of the ‘Keep It Up’ campaign!

Huddersfield Town's sixth annual fundraising bike ride is sponsored by Club partners Orchard Energy and will see supporters and staff cycling 140 miles in total; from Castle Hill in Huddersfield to Blackpool Tower on Friday 1 May 2015, and back to Huddersfield on Saturday 2 May after the game versus The Seasiders.    The event raises money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the Huddersfield Town Academy. Since the start of the ‘Keep It Up’ campaign in 2009, over £1 million has been raised.   Huddersfield Town’s Supporter Partnerships Manager Robyn Deegan commented:   “We’re delighted to have another great number of riders on the latest instalment of ‘Pedal for Pounds’ this year; thanks to everyone who is taking part.   “Even if you’re not on the ride, it’s likely you’ll know somebody that is and I’d encourage everyone to donate what they can to the riders and the ‘Keep It Up’ campaign. We’ve seen very close to home through last weekend’s incident involving Tommy Smith just how vital a service the Yorkshire Air Ambulance provides and every pound plays a part in keeping their life-saving helicopters in the air.”   The deadline to sign up for the ride was Friday 23 January 2015.   If you want to do your bit to support the ‘Keep It Up’ campaign, why not consider taking part in Walk for Pounds, the Club’s 19 mile sponsored walk sponsored by Thornhill Dental Surgery? The walk takes place on Saturday 21 March, beginning at YAA’s Air Support Unit at Nostell Priory in Wakefield and ending at the John Smith’s Stadium prior to the home game v Fulham. To donate to the ‘Keep It Up’ campaign please visit www.justgiving.com/keepitupcampaign or text KIUP99 £5 to 70070.

Orchard Energy has turned up the heat on its support for Yorkshire Air Ambulance with the launch of an exclusive partnership deal.

Orchard is a long time supporter of Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the main sponsor of the Pedal for Pounds 6 charity bike ride, which raises thousands of pounds every year to help keep the air ambulances flying.

The Yorkshire energy management consultancy will now make a donation to YAA every time one of the charity’s corporate partners signs up to work with Orchard.

Katie Collinson of Yorkshire Air Ambulance said: “As well as supporting us through corporate sponsorship and its involvement with Pedal for Pounds, Orchard will now be working much more closely with us and our corporate partners.

“We ourselves have benefitted from working with Orchard which has seen various cost saving for us,  and we are delighted that we will now see a boost to our funds whenever our partners start working with them too.”

Gareth Henderson, managing director of Orchard Energy, said: “Our business is built on strong partnerships and this latest initiative with Yorkshire Air Ambulance is another example of how we work together with clients, charities and other organisations in a way that benefits everyone involved.

“Yorkshire Air Ambulance is a fantastic local charity that regularly makes a difference to people’s lives and as a business we are proud to provide sustained financial input through corporate sponsorship.

“We are delighted to have found yet another way to offer support with the launch of our YAA energy partnership scheme.”

A group of cyclists have raised more than £105,000 for the charity that saved the life of their friend.

Nearly four years ago a training ride turned into a traumatic rescue after one cyclist was left fighting for his life with serious head injuries after he crashed into a wall.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) paramedics were dispatched to the rural location near Harrogate and flew the badly injured man to Leeds General Infirmary within minutes – a journey that could have taken well over an hour by road.

Close friend Mike Rimmer from Otley said: “To this day it’s a mystery how the accident happened but what we do know is that the Air Ambulance saved our friend’s life and we wanted to do something to say thank-you.”

That ‘something’ was a pledge to raise £108,000 for the YAA – what it cost at that time to keep the rapid response emergency charity flying for a month.

In September 2012, Mike and a group of friends cycled across the Pyrenees in just five days – from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean coast. The truly epic 700km bike ride involved 12,000m of ascent and raised over £80,000 for the YAA.

He received a special supporter’s award for his super cycling fundraising team at the charity’s annual Recognition Awards in 2013. Kerry Garner, YAA Regional Fundraiser, said: “Mike organised ‘The Big Bike Ride’ across the Pyrenees which brought in over £80,000 – the most a single event has ever raised for us.

“He and his team are a true inspiration – doing all this for a friend we know is still recovering from what was an horrific accident. We cannot thank them enough.”

And, in September last year Mike and friends Fraser Malcolm, Drew Kirk, Rick Bourne and Matt Eaglan completed a second major endurance ride.

The big-hearted team cycled 1,000km around Corsica in just six days raising a further £25,299 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

The 47-year-old, who runs a Lincolnshire-based vegetable processing business, said: “We’d obviously like to thank all our sponsors and those who donated to this great cause – in particular Kerry foods, Arla Foods and QV Foods.

“The Yorkshire Air Ambulance is a really professional, well run charity providing a vital service. We all hope never to need them but take comfort from knowing they are there.”

Mike and his team are still £3,000 short of their target and anyone who wants to donate can still do so at www.justgiving.com/Mike-Rimmer-abitofarideout or directly through the YAA at www.yaa.org.uk.

The YAA is an independent charity providing a rapid response emergency service to five million people across Yorkshire – England’s largest region. It now needs to raise £9,900 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.

Following an overwhelming response from a recent staff vote Callcredit is pleased to announce that the Yorkshire Air Ambulance will be this year’s ‘charity of the year’ for 2015.

YAA is an independent charity providing a lifesaving rapid response emergency service to 5 million people across Yorkshire. They fly 7 days a week, 365 days a year, covering the whole county – not only major cities and motorways, but also rural and isolated locations.

The charity depends completely on the generosity of the public to keep its two lifesaving helicopters flying. Anyone, anywhere across Yorkshire, might one day need to call on their services.

Mike Gordon, Chief Executive Officer at Callcredit commented, “We often hear or see the Yorkshire Air Ambulance helicopters flying over our Park Lane Head Office and landing at Leeds General Infirmary which is close by. To know that Callcredit staff have chosen to help and support the continued provision of this vital service is both rewarding and very gratifying”. 

To find out more on the Yorkshire Air Ambulance service visit: https://www.yorkshireairambulance.org.uk/

You can also donate by simply sending a text to:

Text YAAC70 £2 to 70070 to donate £2

– See more at: http://www.callcredit.co.uk/press-office/news/2015/01/yorkshire-air-ambulance#sthash.BkK9a7Wu.dpuf

The 19 mile walk will set off from Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s airbase at Nostell Air Support Unit in Wakefield to the John Smith’s Stadium in time for the home game against Fulham on Saturday 21 March 2015. 

Entrants will also take part in a lap of honour on arrival at the Stadium prior to kick-off!

HTAFC Club Ambassador Andy Booth, Academy Manager Mark Lillis, players Conor Coady and Mark Hudson joined up with James and Andy Tattersfield from Walk sponsors Thornhill Dental Surgery for the launch photo.

This will be the Club’s fourth Walk for Pounds event in aid of the ‘Keep It Up’ campaign, with the previous three events raising an amazing £60,000 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and HTAFC Academy.

Town Chairman Dean Hoyle, who has taken part in two previous Walk events, commented: 

“Walk for Pounds is such a well-established event in the Club calendar and each season it seems to get better.

“To walk 19 miles is a big challenge, but it will be a great day with Town fans, partners and staff coming together to raise vital funds for our Academy and the YAA. 

“I would also like to thank our partners Thornhill Dental Surgery for their valued sponsorship of the event.”

YAA Director of Fundraising Paul Gowland echoed Dean’s comments: 

“At the charity we appreciate every single Town supporter who has raised funds for the campaign since our partnership began, and we’re looking forward to another great Walk for Pounds this season!” 

Funds raised by the walkers will go towards maintaining the YAA’s two lifesaving helicopters as well as assisting the HTAFC Academy.

The event entry fee is £15 per person which includes coach transport from PPG Canalside to Nostell Priory to begin the walk kindly provided by Stotts Coaches, breakfast pre-walk, a snack and refreshment as well as an ‘I completed the Walk’ t-shirt.

The minimum age to take part in the Walk is 13 and participants aged 13-15 must be supervised by an adult aged 18+.

To download the entry form here: http://www.htafc.com/documents/walkforpoundsform238-2213801.pdf and return to Walk for Pounds, Huddersfield Town, Stadium Way, Huddersfield, HD1 6PX or hand in at the Stadium Superstore or ticket office.

Alternatively, download the form and email to robyn.deegan@htafc.com, forwarding the entry fee via post.

Entrants will be emailed with an information pack including all details in due course.

The deadline for entries is Friday 6 March 2015.

Paramedics at the Yorkshire Air Ambulance have partnered with suppliers of polar expeditions to design a unique casualty bag.

The air crew have worked closely with specialist company Snowsled Polar Ltd to re-design their successful standard casualty bag to specifically meet the requirements of the rapid response emergency charity.

Almost all Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) patients are secured on an immobilization board and then put in an insulated casualty bag, before being carried to the helicopter and airlifted to hospital.

Recent research suggests that a reduced core body temperature in a trauma patient can have a significant detrimental effect on their outcome.

YAA paramedic Al Day said: “The casualty bags we had were fine but needed replacement and this was a great opportunity to look at improvements which would make a difference to both patients and the paramedic crew.

“Snowsled were great and have worked with us to produce a bespoke design that really meets our needs.

“The new bags have a mat built in at the bottom to give better insulation for casualties and have been modified to make them a lot easier to carry people in.

“We’ve added some features such as a zip system to provide access to different areas of the patient without having to open the bag completely, and made them longer to accommodate a long-leg splint.”

The modifications also include a wipe-clean outer material and non-absorbent lining which means the bags do not have to be laundered after each use. They are also much easier to pack away and store on the aircraft.

Snowsled Polar Ltd develops and manufactures travelling equipment for polar workers, as well as vacuum mattresses and casualty bags for Emergency and Mountain Rescue Services.

Director Roger Daynes said: “The Yorkshire Air Ambulance asked us to add features to our standard product which made a lot of sense.

“We have also worked with them to look at a new washing system for the bags which ensure they can be cleaned as often as necessary but will not degrade. It’s been a really good process.”

The YAA, which has airlifted nearly 6,000 people in its 14-year history, have been able to buy four new casualty bags thanks to grants from The Co-operative Community Fund and Network Rail Charitable Giving Fund.

Paramedic Al Day added: “We are incredibly grateful for the generous funding which means our two aircraft are now fully equipped with the new casualty bags.”

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 £9,900 each day to keep its two helicopters in the air and maintained.

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.

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance has paid tribute to remarkable fundraising pensioner Maisie Allan who has sadly lost her long battle against cancer.

Despite being diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2013, the courageous 85 year-old from Rothwell, Leeds, completed a 900-mile static bike challenge raising over £3,600 for the charity she loves.

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) recognised Maisie’s remarkable efforts when she received a special supporter’s award from the rapid response emergency charity.

And last year Maisie started her biggest fund-raising challenge yet – defying doctors in a brave bid to walk the world for the YAA.

With a pedometer attached to count every step she took each day, Maisie had planned to walk the equivalent of a round the world hike – that’s around 65 million steps!.

She managed to raise more than £1,700 before she became too weak to walk. Maisie, who called her tumour ‘Tommy’, died last week at St Gemma’s Hospice, Leeds.

Kerry Garner, Regional Fundraising Manager for the YAA, said: “Maisie was a wonderful lady and it was a real privilege to get to know her during her time fundraising for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. 

“She was such a character and really was an inspiration to so many, showing us all that no matter what your situation, anything is possible. 

“We are also glad that we were able to recognise Maisie’s fundraising efforts before she got too ill, and we’ll always remember the smile on her face when she was presented with her award.  Our deepest sympathies go to Maisie’s devoted husband Peter who was her rock.  She will be very sadly missed by all at the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.”

Former nurse Maisie and Peter – “my rock” – were also taken on a VIP tour of the service’s new air base at the Nostell, near Wakefield, when she said:  “I’m just an ordinary Yorkshire lass wanting to do good for these amazing people.”

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) is an independent rapid response charity, which has carried more than 5,900 people in its 14-year history. It needs to raise £9,990 each day to keep its two helicopters in the air and maintained –  equivalent to £3.6 million each 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.

The 14 soldiers from 2 Signal Regiment began a five day charity cycle ride at York’s Barbican Centre to raise cash for Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the Soldier’s Charity (formerly the Army Benevolent Fund).

The soldiers from the Regiment’s Light Aid Detachment will be cycling an average of 100 miles a day on static cycles aiming to achieve a total of 5098 miles (8206 Kilometres) over five days. The distance is from the Snooker International Championships in Chengdu, China to the UK Championship in York.

“I am full of admiration for these guys and I realise they have another three or 4,000 miles to go but I have a sweat on just watching them,” said Willie, a TV and radio commentator for all major snooker championships including the World Snooker Championship..

Willie Thorne was a regular in the Top 16 World Ranking players for over a decade and is one of the top record breakers for the highest number of 147 breaks in the history of snooker (190), earning him his nickname "Mr Maximum".

“The Light Aid Detachment wanted to organise a charity event for these two worthwhile causes and as we are interested in Snooker and cycling decided to do a charity cycle at the York Barbican,” said Corporal Daniel Custus, the organiser.

“It has been great for Willie, who is a legend in Snooker, to come and cycle a couple of kilometres to support us – we have really appreciated it.”

The Light Aid Detachment is based in Imphal Barracks in Fulford York and maintains and repairs all kinds of mechanical equipment from weapons and Land Rovers to Signals equipment.

The stuff you don’t want is top of the Christmas list for Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

The rapid response emergency charity has made a festive fund raising plea for people to bag up any unwanted clothes, shoes, bags, curtains and bedding and donate them through their successful recycling campaign.

“The lead up to the festive season and the Christmas period itself is a really good time to have a clear-out of those wardrobes and drawers,” said Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) Partnership Manager Katie Collinson.

“And filling a recycling sack is a Christmas gift that doesn’t cost people any money but means so much to us.”

The YAA, which provides a rapid response emergency service to five million people, needs to raise £12,000 each day to keep its two helicopters flying – equivalent to £4.4m a year.

Recyling provides a massive cash boost for the charity. Since launching its recycling scheme ten years ago with partner the BIU Group, a staggering £2.3 million has been donated to the YAA from bags of unwanted clothes, shoes and household textiles.

Staff at Portakabin’s headquarters in Huntington, York, have been bagging up their unwanted items and recently donated the equivalent of 15, 20kg suitcases to YAA – the company’s chosen charity of the year.

Katie added: “We would like to say a huge thank you to all our supporters who have donated their unwanted items to us and made such a massive difference.

“Once again the generosity of Yorkshire people just takes our breath away. We have a brilliant relationship with our recycling partners Bag It Up, and all the recycled material we collect adds up to around £200,000 a year!”

The charity has more than 250 recycling textile banks at household waste sites, supermarkets and car parks across Yorkshire. You can find out where your nearest bank is by either going to the YAA website (www.yaa.org.uk) or by calling 01422 237900.