The Wainwright Society has donated over £12,000 to the Great North Air Ambulance Service.
The cash was raised by events during 2025, which included a series of Lake District challenge walks and from the sale of the society’s much loved calendar.
Committee members Kate Young, Mark Abbott and Ian Nelson were welcomed by the team at the air ambulance base at Langwathby, near Penrith, where they presented the society’s final donation, bringing the total amount donated to £12,116.
Natasha Banks, senior corporate relationship manager for the air ambulance said the donation will help in the charity’s drive to buy a third helicopter as part of its Operation SOS campaign.
Ian said: “I must send a big thank you to all our society members who have contributed to the fundraising by participating in the 2025 challenge walks, and to everyone who purchased a 2026 calendar.
“The society recognises the invaluable, life-saving work the Great North Air Ambulance Service does and also that, as a charity, they receive no government funding and rely entirely on public support from individuals, companies and organisations such as ours.”
The Wainwright Society was established in 2002 with its primary aims to keep alive the fellwalking traditions promoted by Alfred Wainwright through his guidebooks and other publications and to keep faith with his vision of introducing a wider audience to fellwalking and caring for the hills.
The society has, over the years, raised many thousands of pounds for causes which they believe Wainwright would have appreciated and supported.
Wainwright’s Coast to Coast Walk will become an official National Trail in 2026 so the society’s fundraising for this year will be donated to the mountain rescue teams that give coverage along the route.
