A family is attempting to try and raise enough funds to cover the cost of a call-out for the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) after a rescue close to home.
Every call-out the life-saving service makes, costs on average £2,500, equating to £4million to run the charity each year.
Matthew Colwill, 21, from Easington Colliery, has started raising money, along with his family, to fund one of these missions after he was airlifted by GNAAS on Oct 7th last year following a motorcycle accident.
Mr Colwill was practicing at South Tees MX Park, South Bank, Middlesbrough, when he misjudged a jump, came off the bike and hit the ground face first.
He suffered a serious head injury and GNAAS were called to the scene to transport him to the James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough.
Matthew was on a life-support machine for three days and spent a further two months in hospital recovering.
His mother, Kathleen Colwill said: “There was such huge relief when GNAAS flew him to hospital in just three minutes. I have no doubt that GNAAS saved my son’s life. If the air ambulance had not got there so quick I do believe he wouldn’t have made it. We will be forever in their debt.
“We are trying, as a family, to raise enough money to cover the cost of the call-out that day and we are well on the way with Matthew’s contribution.”
Matthew ran the Redcar Half Marathon on September 29th to raise funds for his flight and his uncle, Shaun Rowley, ran the Sunderland Half Marathon on April 28th and raised £1,380 to add to the overall pot.
Mandy Drake, head of fundraising at GNAAS said: “It is great to see families come together to show their support. We thank the Colwill family for their kind contribution and wish them luck in reaching their target.”
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