A Kendal man has recently celebrated 10 years volunteering at the Great North Air Ambulance Service.
James Howarth, 42, has a full-time job working at Mountain Goat Tours as a fleet mechanic, but in his spare time he likes to get involved with helping the charity.
Mr Howarth first started supporting the service by donating money and clothing, but after hearing about a lack of volunteers in Kendal, he began donating his time in 2014.
It’s now been 10 years since he signed up as a volunteer and he’s even recruited his eight-year-old son Harry to help out on occasion.
He said: “I had some spare weekends so me and my wife Samantha decided we wanted to get involved with a local charity.
“We decided on the Great North Air Ambulance because it was a familiar sight in the Lake District and after hearing more about what was involved in pre-hospital emergency care it was evident how vital this service was in a rural area like Cumbria.
“Since joining, I now see how needed the service is across the whole of Northern England.”
The Great North Air Ambulance Service currently has over 100 regular volunteers as part of its ground crew, who dedicate their spare time representing the charity. Whether it’s delivering presentations to the public, manning stalls at summer shows, or emptying collection boxes, they help in numerous ways to support the cause.
Over the last 10 years, Mr Howarth has mainly been involved in events, stalls at county shows, car shows, and bucket collections at local supermarkets.
He said: “What I most enjoy about volunteering is being able to inform the public about this fantastic charity. It still amazes me how many people think this is a government funded service.
“Everyone we talk to is always so friendly and grateful for what the crews do, it is an honour to represent them.”
For those who cannot commit to a regular volunteering role, there are several opportunities to volunteer for the charity on a one-off basis, especially during the summer months.
Mr Howarth said: “As a volunteer you get to meet fantastic people, attend amazing events and have fun.
“You don’t have to have the passion, that comes afterwards from meeting people who are still here thanks to the charity.”
GNAAS relies on public donations and needs to raise more than £8m every year to survive. Last year, it responded to more than 2,000 call outs. If you would like to find out more about regular or one-off volunteering opportunities, call 01325 487263.
