Two siblings are taking a 10,000 feet plunge in memory of their granddad who was a huge supporter of the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS).
Becca and Mark Irwin, from Millom, are taking on a tandem skydive in remembrance of their grandfather, George Lehrle, who had supported the service for many years.
Mr Lehre, was airlifted by GNAAS Pride of Cumbria when he had taken ill at his home in Lonsdale Road, Millom, on July 26 last year after a long illness.
The 84-year-old was flown to Furness General Hospital, where he later died, but his family say the speedy response of the GNAAS proved vital in giving his family the chance to say goodbye.
Now his grandchildren, Becca Irwin, 29, and her brother Mark Irwin, 26, aim to show their gratitude by raising £2,500 for the service, the average cost of every call out.
The mother-of-two, Miss Irwin, from Scales View, said: “He was a great supporter of the air ambulance during his life, so I suppose it was quite fitting that his last journey was in one.
“I often see the helicopter flying over my house, due to the remote areas in Cumbria, we rely on the continued support of this vital service. It saves crucial time.”
Mr Lehrle, originally from Barrow, worked as a writer for the Evening Mail in his teens, before stints at the Ritz Cinema House, Millom Ironworks and GlaxoSmithKline.
Miss Irwin and her family have lots of other ideas to continue raising money for the service.
She said: “The charity is really close to our family’s hearts, it is a complete joint fundraising effort. We don’t just want to come close to our target, we want to smash it!”
Sellafield worker Miss Irwin and her brother, a mechanic and coach driver at Hodgson’s in Millom, will take to the skies on Saturday 19th October, flying from Skyline Airfield in Cark.
The brave pair has raised £1740 so far. Anyone wishing to add to their donation can do so by visiting justgiving.com/beccairwin84 or/mark-irwin1 or text GRGE59 followed by your amount £xx.xx to 70070
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