Through various fundraising activities in 2020/2021 we raised a fantastic £12,200, which brings the total raised across the Group in recent years for GNAAS, to over £28,000!!
The vital role which GNAAS plays across the North of England is particularly close to CEO Richard Rankin’s heart, so much so that it led him to undertake the Great North Run, despite having damaged a knee ligament. “Living and working in a rural area, far away from hospitals, means that GNAAS is an absolutely essential service. Without their support many people would not be alive today, so we are delighted to do all we can to raise money for such a worthwhile cause.”
Launched in 1991, with the aim of providing the North East of England’s first helicopter air ambulance, it took four years to bring that dream to fruition. Over the last three decades the charity has gone from strength to strength and now has three helicopters and two rapid response cars, covering an area of about 8,000 square miles. However, 2020 was a devastating year for the GNAAS and they estimate that they lost over a million in funds because of the pandemic. Events were cancelled and fundraising was put on hold, so now every contribution is even more vital. The annual cost of running the service is an eyewatering £6.7 million, and last year alone they had 1,620 callouts each costing £4,135.
Julie Jameson, Corporate Fundraising Officer for GNAAS said: “We are very grateful for the support we’ve received from H&H Group over the years. We hope they can take pride in knowing the funds they’ve raised have enabled our critical care team to continue operating across the region and provide much needed pre-hospital care to the most ill and injured people.”
Nina Oxley, Group Marketing Manager, completed Race to Base in November last year, cycling 42 miles per week through the wind and rain, the concept being to cover the distance that the GNAAS critical care team fly when returning to one of their bases from Newcastle Royal Victoria Hospital, the North’s major trauma centre.
Commenting Nina said “We have run a variety of events designed to engage everyone, including Rugby and Strictly Come Dancing Sweepstakes, a Christmas Wreath Making Competition, Dress Down Fridays and various sporting sponsorships. It has been immensely satisfying seeing everyone respond so enthusiastically to our fundraising efforts and over recent years it is great that the H&H Group’s charitable activities have contributed such a significant amount to the GNAAS. It is a service that we all hope we never have to use but are very glad to know it’s there!”
The GNAAS is not funded by the NHS and is 100% reliant on public donations to survive. There are many ways to support them from volunteering to organising fundraising events or bequeathing a legacy in your will. Every pound goes to saving lives.
Thanks to everyone involved in our various fundraising events.