Store's air ambulance fundraiser takes off (From The Advertiser Series)

Store's air ambulance fundraiser takes off

12:54pm Thursday 20th September 2012 in News

STAFF at a high street store have helped raise over £400 for charity by holding a family fun day.

Team members at Wilkinson, in East Street, Darlington, invited customers to take part in the recent event in support of the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS).

In support of the regional partnership with the GNAAS, team members dressed up in their old school uniforms and hosted a day of ‘Back to School’ themed activities in order to raise money for the charity.

Customers were invited to take part in a raffle to win a £50 Wilkinsons’ gift card, with all donations going straight to the charity.

The team members, in their fancy dress, walked around the town centre with fundraising buckets, entertaining shoppers and spurred them on to make donations for the good cause.

Store manager Shaun Wallas said: “The whole team is incredibly pleased to be supporting the GNAAS as our regional charity of the year.

“It is a great cause and the charity makes a valuable contribution to local communities.

“This is the fourth event we have held, raising a grand total of £960 for the charity, which we hope to add to during the year through these types of events.”

Mandy Drake, head of fundraising at the GNAAS, said: “All the funds raised by Wilkinsons will go a long way towards keeping our aircrafts flying.

“Through our work, we transport time-critical, injured or ill patients to specialist hospitals and it is the aim of the GNAAS to provide the people of the north with the best quality care available to them.

“We are therefore incredibly grateful to Wilkinsons’ team members and customers for their support.”