Last year, my nana had a serious fall and broke her hip and leg. Although she lives in a remote part of the Eden Valley, the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) were by her side within half an hour. The two doctors who arrived delivered critical care and pain relief that made all the difference in those early, vital moments. They also took a moment to reassure and explain things to my 9-year-old daughter, who was there at the time - I’ll always be grateful for the speed, skill and compassion they showed.

GNAAS is a charity that rescues hundreds of severely injured or ill patients every year across the North East, North Yorkshire and Cumbria. In 2024 alone, they responded to over 2,000 callouts by helicopter and emergency vehicle, often performing life-saving treatments right at the scene – whether that’s a roadside, a fell top or a city centre.