September 2020 SkylNewsletterines brati ele ng C 2 1 Years Registered Charity no: 1075641 www.nwaa.net | 0800 587 4570 02 •03 Welcome to this jam-packed edition of Skylines! Contents I would like to give my sincerest thanks to all our supporters and volunteers for their continued support and well wishes, during what has been a challenging time for each and every one of us. It really has been 04. Celebrating 21 years of saving lives! overwhelming to see how loved our wonderful charity is, and we are all 06. Get ready, get set, Go21! truly grateful. 09. Joining forces to save lives In this edition, on pages 10-11, you can read the incredible and inspiring 10. Meet our patients stories of Nick, David and Emma, who would not have survived without our lifesaving service, which relies on your support. 13. Reaching new heights with our Lift off Lotto Hello 14. Calling all employers Turn to pages 4-5 to see just how the crew celebrated our charity’s 21st 15. Planning for the future birthday. They certainly know how to have fun, and the birthday cake went 16. Dress for less down a treat! 18. Thank you We’d love you to join in our birthday celebrations, by taking part in Go21! It’s easy - set yourself a challenge, have some fun and raise funds to celebrate 21 years of our lifesaving service. You can choose any activity you’d like, whatever your age or ability. Turn to pages 6-7 to find out more. We look forward to seeing your pictures on social media soon very soon. Aside from all this, you can even find out how to dress for less, and the bargains available in our retail stores. Check out pages 16-17 for some style tips and how to take part in the #21poundchallenge! There are so many ways you can support us - we hope Skylines gives you plenty of inspiration! As ever, thank you so much for your continued support. Your generosity keeps us flying to save lives and we Contact Us wouldn’t be here without you. If you would like to receive Skylines in an alternative format, such as large print or braille, please email [email protected] General Enquiries Heather Arrowsmith, CEO 0800 587 4570 [email protected] Contact your Fundraising Team [email protected] North West Air Ambulance Charity nwairambulance @NWAirAmbulance www.facebook.com/nwaac ( ... ♦ • • * 04 * 0905 * We are celebrating Catch up with 21 years of saving lives! the crew We caught up with Deborah to Our amazing crew kicked off our birthday celebrations in style… find out more about her experience as a North West Air Ambulance Charity HEMS Paramedic. When did you join the North West Air hour later. One day we few along the coast Ambulance Charity? of Cumbria and I saw my childhood house, I joined 5 years ago. I can’t believe how fast my old school, and the hospital where I the time has fown (pardon the pun!). was born, all with the spectacular views of Have you always wanted to be a HEMS the Lake District behind. If you ever see us Paramedic? fying, give us a big wave - I promise to wave back if I see you! “The charity has gone from strength to strength over the years, and it’s a real pleasure I have always wanted to work in a medical to work with such a fantastic team who are all committed to providing the best possible profession. I have a passion for helping What are some of the ways people can outcomes for our patients. It’s thanks to our wonderful supporters that I have the best job people in any way possible. I never thought get involved and help you and the crew - I can’t thank them enough for everything they do for us. Here’s to the next 21 years!” I would be good enough to be a part of an to save lives? amazing air ambulance team, and I count Rob, Senior HEMS Paramedic The Lift off Lotto is a great way to help - it’s * my blessings every day to be where I am a win-win. The retail stores are also brilliant, and working in this fantastic team. I shop there myself - I love a bargain! To “Happy Birthday NWAA! I’d like to thank “I’m so in awe of the dedication shown by anyone who is thinking of supporting us, anyone who supports us, or has supported What’s the most rewarding thing about our supporters, fundraisers and volunteers. please do. The medical interventions we us, over the years. You are very much part • your role? They all do their bit to make sure we can bring to our patients make a lifesaving of our team and we’re so grateful for all the Simply being able to make a positive stay in the skies, and on the ground, difference. Without your wonderful support, hard work and time you put in to support difference. The relief on people’s faces providing pre-hospital care to those who G) we wouldn’t be there for our patients when our service. It’s thanks to you that we can when we arrive is very humbling; whether need it the most. On behalf of all of the they need us the most. crew, thank you to everybody who has be there for critically ill and injured patients, it’s the patients or our colleagues from the helped our charity over the past 21 years - and give them the best possible chance of ambulance service. Mountain rescue teams North West Air we wouldn’t be here without you!” survival - for that, we thank you.” are also happy to see us! Helping someone Ambulance Charity Piers, HEMS Paramedic Scott, HEMS Doctor in their time of need is what keeps me going. is 21! How did you What are the best views in the North celebrate your 21st West when you’re up in the helicopter? birthday? I am from Cumbria originally, and so I’m I was treated to a DONATE A 21ST BIRTHDAY GIFT biased to the views of the Lake District. surprise party for To donate a gift for our 21st birthday, text BDAY 5 to 70490 to donate £5. There’s a great variety in the North West. We my 21st birthday. My birthday cake was Alternatively, you can choose to give any whole amount up to £20 can be fying over a city centre one minute, a huge Mars Bar rice crispy cake and I by adding the amount after BDAY. For example, BDAY 10 to donate £10. and then be fying through the mountains an greedily didn’t share very much of it! Texts cost the donation amount plus one standard rate message and you’ll be opting in to hear more about our work via SMS and telephone. If you do not wish to receive marketing communications, text If you’d like to support our lifesaving crew with a donation, BDAYNOINFO and the donation amount to 70490. visit nwaa.net/donate-now. 06 07 Lisa’s 21km challenge Get ready, get set, Go21! In 2013, Lisa was involved in a road traffc collision whilst on her morning paper round. Our crew arrived on scene and airlifted her to hospital, where she was Need some inspiration? Here’s a placed into a coma. The amazing news is Lisa made a few of our favourites… full recovery and has since been an active supporter of the North West Air Ambulance Charity. Lisa completed a Get moving 21km walk raising nearly £200 for our service! Why not Run 21 laps of your garden or challenge yourself to do the same? All that’s left to do is Go21! is your chance to set yourself local park. Why not cycle 21km get sponsored and get going! a challenge, have some fun and raise or walk 21 miles? funds to celebrate 21 years of our Green fngers lifesaving service. You can choose Commit to 21 minutes of any activity you’d like, whatever your gardening every day for a month. Get active age or ability - get involved! You could sell your seedlings, or preen your peonies, and create home-made Introducing Runclusive John’s cycling challenge Choose an activity, don’t bouquets in return for a donation. We’re excited to In May 2018, John Olerenshaw, from the Isle of Man, set forget to incorporate the announce our brand off to cycle around the coastline of Great Britain. With number 21 Push yourself only 110 miles to go he had a major accident, crashing STEP new partnership 1 Complete 21 minutes of exercise into a road sign. Our crew airlifted John to hospital and with Runclusive, for 21 days. he spent several weeks undergoing multiple surgeries Register at an exclusive series of virtual running events. Runclusive and a long recovery process. Exactly two years on from nwaa.net/go21challenge his crash, John and a group of friends had planned STEP Shhh! offers an international 2 to cycle the remaining miles of the challenge, but One for the kids? Complete a programme of events - and 21-hour silence. includes some trusted this was postponed due to the Covid-19 crisis. This Get sponsored favourites, as well as some didn’t dampen their spirits though, and John and his exciting new ones, for you to friends decided to cycle 100 miles each to replicate the STEP Keepie-uppie challenge 3 challenge in their hometown instead, raising money to Test your skills and complete a get involved in.