The Wainwright Society’s 2026 calendar has already raised £2,500 for the Great North Air Ambulance Service.
Kate Young, the Wainwright Society’s secretary and John Nicholl, society chairman have handed over a cheque to Mieke Tennant, community fundraiser for the air ambulance, at the society’s annual memorial lecture at Rheged, near Penrith.
The calendar has become a popular fundraiser for Cumbrian charities. The 2024 calendar raised £12,500 for Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association and the 2025 calendar raised £16,900 for Fix the Fells.
Ian Nelson, who produces the calendar for the Wainwright Society, said: “This year we are delighted to be raising funds for the Great North Air Ambulance Service which does such a magnificent job attending and giving medical help at actual or potential life-threatening incidents, often in locations inaccessible by road.
“The Great North Air Ambulance Service receives no government funding for its lifesaving service across Cumbria, the North East, North Yorkshire and the Isle of Man, relying entirely on public generosity, and fundraising by bodies like the Wainwright Society.
“In 2024, the Great North Air Ambulance Service responded to 2,083 callouts and the service’s annual operating cost is £9.3 million which is a significant fundraising challenge.”
The initial cheque represented the profit from the sale of the 2026 calendars up to the end of September.
Ian added: “As the sale of calendars increases during the last months of the year it is anticipated that more significant donations will be made during December and January.
“It is hoped that the society can raise at least £10,000 from the sale of the calendar and from its other fund-raising activities throughout 2025.”
The calendar is features photographs taken by society members. None of the photographers are paid, and all of the money raised from the sale of the calendar will be donated to the Great North Air Ambulance Service.
Ian added: “I’m particularly proud of the 2026 edition: there are some beautiful, colourful images of the Lake District including a fabulous cover picture of Rannerdale Knots surrounded by bluebells by Bridget Wedderburn of Windermere.
“I hope that the general public will appreciate the work that is done by the volunteers of the Wainwright Society and give us their support and help raise funds to keep the Great North Air Ambulance Service in the air.”
Natasha Banks, of the Great North Air Ambulance Service, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to have the support of the Wainwright Society again.
“The funds they raise throughout the year will enable our critical care team to continue delivering world-class pre-hospital care to ill or injured patients across the region.”
The calendar can be bought from the Wainwright Society’s website at http://www.wainwright.org.uk/merchandise/ for £12 including UK postage. It is also stocked at retail outlets across Cumbria.
