The Great North Air Ambulance Service is celebrating a major fundraising milestone after supporters helped raise £100,000 via its Written in the Sky campaign.
The initiative gives people the opportunity to become part of the charity’s future by having their name, or the name of someone special to them, displayed on the underside of one of the charity’s new helicopters for a minimum donation of £100.
Since launching earlier this year, 372 names have been submitted by supporters from across the region, helping the charity reach the six-figure mark.
The campaign is part of Operation SOS, the charity’s most ambitious appeal to date, which aims to raise £2.5 million to secure the deposit for a third helicopter.
As demand for the service continues to grow, the charity has designed a blueprint for a stronger future, investing in three state-of-the-art helicopters called Airbus H145 D2.
Through careful financial planning, the charity already has the deposits for the first two aircraft, however, urgently needs public support to fund the deposit for a crucial third helicopter.
Returning to a three-helicopter fleet will ensure the charity’s critical care team are always ready to respond by air, even when one aircraft is temporarily out of action for maintenance.
As part of the campaign, supporters who make a qualifying donation can also purchase a limited-edition commemorative coin for £10.
So far, 213 coins have been sold, creating an additional way for people to support the charity while owning a unique keepsake marking this important chapter in its history.
Joe Garcia MBE, chief executive officer, said: “Reaching £100,000 through Written in the Sky is a fantastic milestone and a testament to the incredible generosity of our supporters.
“Every name submitted represents a personal connection to our charity, whether it’s someone who has needed our service, a loved one being honoured, or a supporter who understands the importance of the critical care we deliver across the North East, North Yorkshire, Cumbria and the Isle of Man.
“We are very grateful to everyone who has contributed so far, but we are still a long way off from our target in order to achieve our Operation SOS goal.
“We’re calling on communities, businesses, and individuals to help keep this momentum going and support Written in the Sky so we can secure the future of our life-saving service.”
