A Cumbrian dad and grandad are getting ready to take on a cycling challenge for the charity that saved their baby girl’s life.
Dan and Ian Atkinson, of Brampton and Brough, along with friends and colleagues will be taking part in Great North Air Ambulance Service cycling event called The GYRO on Sunday 19 July.
The pair are taking on 60-mile and 30-mile bike rides respectively, to raise funds for the charity, after it saved the life of Dan’s daughter Winnie Atkinson at just 11-months old.
Ian said: “I am taking part in the 30-mile bike ride to raise money for this amazing charity, that saved my precious granddaughter’s life.
“In my eyes the air ambulance team are heroes, and I cannot thank them enough for what they did for our family.”
On 27 September last year, Winnie was having her first sleepover at her grandparents’ house in Brough, with her older sister Ada, aged six, when she suddenly became unwell.
Her mother Olivia Brummitt and father Dan Atkinson were enjoying their first date night since Winnie was born, in Carlisle, when they got the news and rushed to be by her side.
Olivia said: “Winnie was playing happily then crawled into the middle of the living room, went completely vacant and then she started shaking and her eyes rolled back and she was having a seizure.
“Her Nana called 999 immediately when she noticed she was vacant.”
The critical care team from GNAAS attended the scene alongside the North West Ambulance Service to assess and treat Winnie.
She was experiencing multiple seizures that wouldn’t stop on their own, which led to the paramedic and doctor from GNAAS placing Winnie into a medically induced coma, to stop the seizures, prevent their recurrence, and reduce the risk of brain damage.
She was airlifted to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough in 21 minutes. The same journey by road would have been at least an hour.
She stayed in James Cook for one night before being transferred to Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle to be closer to home and was discharged a few days later.
Her family have since raised thousands of pounds for GNAAS, which is reliant on charitable donations, and visited their base in Langwathby to thank air ambulance doctor Izzy Freshwater who treated Winnie.
Olivia said: “We’ve always known what a valuable service GNAAS is living somewhere like Cumbria, but after what they did for our baby, we are completely in awe of everyone involved.
“It’s such an amazing service that quite literally is the difference between life or death in so many situations.”
Winnie has now been diagnosed with epilepsy and will be on medication for at least the next few years but thankfully she has not had any further seizures.
Her family are continuing to fundraise for the charity after two members signed up to their cycling event The GYRO, alongside seven colleagues and friends, and they’ve collectively called themselves ‘Winnie Gives Us Wings’.
Dan and Ian have chosen to take part in the 30 mile and 60 mile routes and have already raised more than £1,000, surpassing their initial target of £500.
Winnie’s dad Dan, who is cycling 60 miles, said: “I’m doing the GYRO Cumbria 2026 for my daughter who wouldn’t be here today without the vital services they provided, in the incredible timeframe they did it in.
“I will forever be in debt to the team and want to give back as much as possible, it will be a challenge, but what the air ambulance did for our little girl will make every pedal worth it.”
This is the first time the event has been held in Cumbria, after it previously only took place in the North East, and is a non-competitive ride out offering three distances, 30, 60 and 90 miles.
Every route starts and ends at Penrith Football Club and takes cyclists through the scenic Cumbria countryside with various levels of elevation.
There is no minimum sponsorship for the event and all participants receive a medal after completing their route.
Places are still available for the GYRO for both the North East event on Sunday 5 July and Cumbria event on Sunday 19 July.
