Every time I see the helicopter, I feel proud that we’ve been able to play a small part in helping to keep it in the air.”
An Appleby-based national mortgage advisory, which specialises in supporting blue light workers and members of the armed forces alongside members of the public, has given the Great North Air Ambulance Service an initial boost of nearly £10,000 as it commits to support the charity.
Patrick James Solutions has pledged to regularly fundraise for the Great North Air Ambulance Service after its owner Paddy Glennon – who served in the Royal Signals himself – was inspired by seeing the crucial service in action after witnessing at a serious motorcycle accident.
The Crosscroft Industrial Estate-based business has made the long-term commitment after the charity, which operates two emergency medical response helicopters and a fleet of road vehicles, announced that it was predicted to run a deficit this year, meaning they will have to dip into their reserves to keep the charity flying.
Patrick James Solutions has already raised nearly £10,000 for the charity, which receives no NHS funding and must fundraise more than £8million a year to provide its life-saving care across 8,000 square miles in Cumbria, North East England, The Borders and The Isle of Man.
Paddy and his team have raised the money through a number of initiatives including a 24-hour treadmill challenge, cake sales and hiking expeditions.
Paddy said: “As a business, we already make a huge effort to provide support and services to members of the blue light and armed forces communities as a thank you for their service. The Great North Ambulance Service is a natural extension of that, responding to more than 2,000 callouts in 2023.
“I witnessed the amazing pilots and medics from the Great North Air Ambulance service a few years ago when I was one of the first people at a serious motorcycle crash. It arrived so quickly, well ahead of the other emergency services and the team got to work straight away. It left a lasting impression on me just how vital it was for the region and since then I have been a supporter.
“We’re based in Cumbria, which is largely rural and it can be difficult to get road ambulance services where they need to be in time to provide lifesaving support themselves. Everyone who lives here knows someone who has been helped by the Great North Air Ambulance Service or has seen it land at an incident. Every time I see it, I feel proud that we’ve been able to play a small part in helping to keep it in the air.”
Natasha Banks, specialist fundraiser for the Great North Air Ambulance Service in Cumbria, said: “It’s amazing that Patrick James Solutions has made a lifelong pledge to support the Great North Air Ambulance Service. We are not NHS funded and need to raise approximately £8.5m a year to remain operational. Due to the rising cost of our operations, we are likely to run at a deficit this year, which means it’s more important than ever to have the support of businesses, so our charity can continue making a vital difference to people’s lives.”
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