THE Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) are calling on its supporters to help light up local landmarks to celebrate their 20th birthday.
On Friday, May 13, monuments, buildings and bridges across the region will be illuminated green to mark 20-years of GNAAS being an independent registered charity.
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Since 2002, the air ambulance service has provided life-saving care to the most ill or injured people across the North East, North Yorkshire, Northumberland and Cumbria.
They do not receive government funding and must therefore raise £6.7m a year through public donations to remain operational.
David Stockton, the charity’s chief executive officer, said: “Over the last 20-years, our charity has evolved from humble beginnings to being a world-class leader in pre-hospital care.
“Thanks to the support of the public, we have been able to deliver care to approximately 23,500 people across the North, and we are proud to say we maintained an uninterrupted service during the pandemic.”
The illumination of landmarks will take place in the North East and North West, where the air ambulance service operates, to raise awareness of the vital work GNAAS has carried out over the last two decades.
Landmarks being illuminated in the North East are the Penshaw Monument, Northern Spire Bridge, Keel Square, The Lighthouse at Roker Cliff Park, Fulwell Mill, Hylton Castle, Beacon of Light, Gateshead Millennium Bridge, Tyne Bridge and Newcastle Civic Centre.
In the North West currently The Beacon and Candlestick Chimney in Whitehaven and Carlisle Civic Centre’s heart are being illuminated.
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There are still opportunities for further landmarks to go green for GNAAS, and this can be arranged by contacting Anita Economides, an event coordinator at the charity.
Ms Economides said: “We’ve got a fantastic range of landmarks being illuminated green to celebrate our 20th birthday, but we would love to spread the awareness of our charity even further by having more areas across the region going green.
"Alternatively, if you’re from a school or workplace, why not have a dress down day to raise funds and wear green for GNAAS.”
To discuss lighting up a local landmark, bridge, monument or building on May 13 to support GNAAS, please contact Anita Economides by emailing anita.economides@gnaas.co.uk or phone 01325 487263.
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