[L]akes & Dales Co-operative have funded vital equipment for the Great North Air Ambulance Service – helping the service which covers the Society’s trading areas in Cumbria, Durham and Northumberland.
Formed just over 15 years ago, the Great North Air Ambulance Service currently operates three helicopters from its two bases at Langwathby in Cumbria and at Durham Tees Valley Airport.
The helicopters, containing a doctor, a pilot and a paramedic, travel throughout the region, often to remote rural locations to help patients who are seriously at risk from life-threatening illnesses.
Lakes & Dales Co-operative, which has nine stores located in Cumbria and the north-east of England, have used funding generated from the sale of single-use carrier bags to purchase 40 thermal blankets, temperature controlled blood boxes and also the service and repair of flight helmets.
Lakes & Dales Co-operative Regional Committee member John Mills said: “Lakes & Dales Co-op are proud to be able to fund equipment for the Great North Air Ambulance Service – the service they provide across the community is invaluable.
“The Lakes & Dales region has a very rural community and this is a project that definitely merits our support and funding.
“As a co-operative, funding the Great North Air Ambulance fits our values our principles – we want to help the communities we serve.
“This funding is playing a small part in helping to make a big difference to an incredibly important service – the professionalism and dedication shown by the Great North Air Ambulance team on a daily basis is absolutely phenomenal.”
Dr Rachel Hawes from the Great North Air Ambulance Service said: “The funding from Lakes & Dales Co-op will make a huge difference and it has gone towards cool boxes, which we carry our blood and plasma in, warming blankets for patients and helmets to protect the staff while they are working.
“We’re hugely grateful to Lakes & Dales Co-op for providing the funding because, without donations, we wouldn’t be able to run the service.”
