Help needed to hit Great North Air Ambulance appeal target

Feb 7 2010 Sunday Sun

To reach our total we need families to continue donating and pledging.

As reported in previous weeks the GNAA has already identified the helicopter perfect for buying as its own. A holding deposit has already been put down.

As soon as the chopper can be brought into service the number of rescues the charity can fly will double.

Fundraising manager Mandy Drake said: “Everyone here at the Great North Air Ambulance is delighted with the amount we’ve raised so far.

“We set ourselves an ambitious target and thanks to the generosity of families out there we have proven it can be achieved.

“Our aim is to bring the new helicopter into service this year. That means there’s plenty of time for everyone out there to get involved in some fundraising.

“Have a think about what you enjoy doing with your friends, and in your spare time. How could you and your colleagues give what you do at work an unusual twist to raise some money?

“We’re determined to reach our target, and we need your help to get there. At the same time we want families to have fun contributing to the fund.

“Remember this new helicopter will have Great North Air Ambulance written on the side, but it will belong to everyone in the region.

It could be there to help anyone in the North when they need it.

“No one expects to need the Air Ambulance We all pray we never will, but none of the patients, whose suffering we have eased in the past thought they would either.

“Over the coming weeks we’re planning to launch a series of new fundraising initiatives everyone out there can get involved in.

“In the meantime, please keep your donations and pledges coming in.

Every penny matters to us so much.”