110 Mile Race Runner To Go The Distance For Air Ambulance

September 25, 2010 - A Northumberland runner is going the extra mile or 110 to help support the Great North Air Ambulance (GNAA). The Great North Air Ambulance (GNAA) is an English charity based in the United Kingdom. It provides air ambulance services across the North of England from the Scottish border south to North Yorkshire in the east and Cumbria in the west.  

GNAA currently operates two helicopters, one near Penrith, Cumbria and one at Durham Tees Valley Airport. The third aircraft a Bolkow Bo 105 based at Otterburn Army Camp Northumberland was officially retired in February 2010 having been off line since the previous spring. There is currently speculation that a third AS 365N will be acquired. 

DAWN Advice offers free, confidential and independent advice to people across the region and nationally on issues relating to housing, debt, employment, welfare benefits and family law. Established in 1998, DAWN Advice is a social enterprise and a member of the UK's largest network of free, advice-providing organizations. 

?As I ride a motorbike and use the fells a lot as part of my running I?m very aware of the times I may, one day, rely on the service. It?s important to me to be able to give something back to support the Great North Air Ambulance as it plays such an intricate role in helping to save so many lives each year by transporting critically ill and injured people to hospital.? 

DAWN Advice announced the Great North Air Ambulance Service as its nominated charity earlier this year. Employees at the social-enterprise have already raised funds for the charity through a clothes swapping event, bake days, raffles and a summer barbecue. Liz Chadwick, Chief Executive of DAWN Advice, added ?We were absolutely thrilled to select the Great North Air Ambulance Service as our nominated charity and I?m delighted that James is really putting his all into helping to support the organization. ?As the Great North Air Ambulance relies so heavily on public donations everyone at DAWN is extremely proud to be helping the organization to continue providing this outstanding service, which saves hundreds of lives every year across the entire region.?

Established in May 1991, The Great North Air Ambulance Service operates a fleet of helicopters based across the North East and Cumbria which are vital for the transportation of time-critical injured or ill patients to specializing hospitals. It costs approximately ?1.2m each year to operate one helicopter and as the service receives no Government or lottery funding it relies solely on public donations, in addition to its own business income generation streams.