Yorkshire Air Ambulance sends 700 postcards to supporters

The charity did this as part of its second annual 'Ta Very Much' day, a gesture aimed at appreciating its supporters.

The initiative, which began as a means to acknowledge those who keep the YAA helicopters in the air, 'captures the essence of Yorkshire generosity.'

The name 'Ta Very Much' adds a regional flavour to the age-old practice of expressing gratitude and acknowledges its supporters' crucial contribution to life-saving operations.

This year, the charity went a step further by engaging YAA staff, including paramedics, doctors, pilots, and various head office and fundraising teams, to take a break from their routine and personally express their gratitude.

They achieved this through personal phone calls and handwritten notelets to their supporters.

Paramedics, doctors, pilots and office staff made personal phone calls and handwritten postcards (Image: Supplied)

The charity believes these small gestures of appreciation help reinforce a bond, reminding donors of the life-saving impact of their contributions, irrespective of their size.

Additionally, Yorkshire Air Ambulance's patron, Jon Mitchell, the former ITV Calendar weather forecaster, joined the team this year.

He took time out to pen personal notes to supporters, signing his cards with his raincloud signature.

Peter Sunderland, YAA's former chairman and now patron, who retired in 2023 after 20 years of service, also participated.

He spent the day calling supporters and having conversations with supporters to understand the personal stories behind their generous donations.

YAA looks forward to continuing the ‘Ta Very Much’ tradition (Image: Supplied)

Katie Collinson, partnerships manager at Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: "This event has become a meaningful tradition for us, allowing us to pause and personally thank those who make our life-saving work possible.

"Whether it’s through a handwritten postcard or a phone call, it’s important that our supporters know how much their generosity means to us and the difference they make in keeping our helicopters flying and our crew responding to emergencies across Yorkshire."

The 'Ta Very Much' day provides a platform to connect with as many donors as possible.

For those who didn't receive a call or postcard, the charity assures that their gratitude extends to every supporter, and recognises their generosity.

Specialist critical care paramedic, Tammy Williams, highlighted the importance of supporters' contributions in enabling their emergency response.

She said: "Every mission we fly is funded by the generosity of our supporters.

"Their contributions directly impact our ability to reach critically ill patients, whether it’s responding to a cardiac arrest, a severe trauma, or a road traffic collision."