North celebs back our Air Angels campaign

Dec 27 2009 by Rob Pattinson, Sunday Sun

A HOST of favourite North figures have given our Air Angels campaign their Christmas backing.

Top names from TV, sport, and business all put their names to the Sunday Sun’s bid to raise £1m for the Great North Air Ambulance, just in time for December 25.

Today we can bring you the combined message from Denise Welch, Tim Healy, Pam Royle, and Sir John Hall.

Put simply it’s: “Do what you can for the Air Angels”.

The celebrity backing came as our campaign topped the £140,000 mark, thanks to your donations and pledges this week.

It means over the seven weeks the campaign has been running we have pulled in an average of £20,000 each week.

Last week we told how the bid had raised enough cash to put down a deposit on Michael Owen’s former helicopter.

The luxury fittings the ex-Toon star enjoyed will be stripped out and replaced with life-saving medical equipment.

The money which keeps coming in is crucial to ensuring the GNAA can pay for their new aircraft in full and help ensure the future of the charity, which receives no government funding.

Great North Air Ambulance official charity patron Pam Royle was so enthusiastic about the cause she even donned an angel outfit.

The North East Tonight presenter said: “Raising enough for the deposit is absolutely the best Christmas present we could have for the region.

“I wasn’t expecting it to happen so soon. But it is only a deposit and we need to keep raising money to pay for the helicopter.

“I’ve been to see several groups who have been taking part in raising money for the campaign and I want to thank everyone who has been behind it.

“The doctor’s, paramedics and pilots on the service are so skilled.

“They just don’t panic in these hugely difficult circumstances.

“They have that special quality so many of us don’t have.

“Without people’s help the service can’t continue. Unlike the other emergency services it receives no Government funding.

“It is a busy time of year, so an extra-specially big thank you to all readers for their help.”

Loose Women favourite Denise Welch and her Auf Wiedersehen Pet star husband Tim Healy might have been sunning themselves in the Caribbean, but they still took the time to back our bid.

Denise said: “Of course we support the Air Angels campaign.

“The service is so important to the region, the prospect of not having it is something we can’t allow to happen. Please do all you can to support the campaign.”

Tim said: “It’s amazing to think a life-saving service like the Air Ambulance receives no Government funding.

“Everyone in the North knows how important it is, especially in rural areas.

“If we can help secure the charity’s future, then fantastic.

“It would be great to see as many families as possible getting involved.”

Metrocentre founder and former Newcastle United chairman Sir John Hall said: “It’s a wonderful cause and I’m delighted to give my backing to a service which serves the whole of the region.”

GNAA fundraising manager Mandy Drake said: “It’s wonderful to have the support of these well-known North celebrities, but it is support from the public which matters the most.

“Thanks to everyone for all of their hard work again this week.

“Please, please keep the money coming in to help us reach our target.”

:: Click here to find out how you can help our Air Angels campaign