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9:49 AM 17th October 2024
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Yorkshire Air Ambulance Sends 700 Postcards To Supporters For ‘Ta Very Much’ Day

 
Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) is celebrating its second annual ‘Ta Very Much’ day, continuing its heartfelt mission to personally thank its supporters. This year, 700 handwritten postcards will be landing on doorsteps across Yorkshire, each one carrying a message of thanks to randomly selected donors across Yorkshire, expressing gratitude for their contributions over the past 12 months.

The event, which originated as a way to give back to those who help keep YAA’s helicopters flying, captures the essence of Yorkshire generosity. The name ‘Ta Very Much’ adds a regional twist to the timeless tradition of saying ‘thank you’ and demonstrates the charity’s commitment to recognising its supporters' vital role in its life-saving work.

The event saw YAA staff including the lifesaving crew of paramedics, doctors, pilots, TCM’s and various head office and fundraising teams briefly stepping away from their daily duties to come together to make personal phone calls and write notelets to their supporters. These small acts of gratitude are designed to forge an emotional connection, reminding donors that their contributions - no matter the size - make a life-saving difference.

Joining the team this year was YAA’s Patron and beloved Yorkshire figure, Jon Mitchell, the former ITV Calendar weather forecaster. His participation added a special touch to the day as he sat down with the team to personally write notes to supporters, signing his cards with his famous raincloud signature. Also taking part was Peter Sunderland, YAA’s former Chairman and now Patron, who retired in 2023 after 20 years of dedicated service. Peter spent the day calling supporters, engaging in meaningful conversations and learning more about the personal stories behind their generous support for the charity.

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 charity acknowledges that while it can’t thank every supporter individually, ‘Ta Very Much’ day has become a special moment to make that personal connection with as many donors as possible. For those who didn’t receive a call or postcard, the message remains the same— YAA’s gratitude extends to every person who supports their mission, your generosity is truly appreciated.

Specialist Critical Care Paramedic, Tammy Williams, highlighted the importance of supporters' contributions in enabling their emergency response:
“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. ‘Ta Very Much’ day gives us the chance to express our gratitude, as without their support, we simply wouldn’t be able to carry out our life-saving work across Yorkshire.”


With the success of its second year, YAA looks forward to continuing the ‘Ta Very Much’ tradition, ensuring their supporters feel valued and appreciated for years to come.

For more information about Yorkshire Air Ambulance and how you can support the life-saving work of the Charity, please visit www.yaa.org.uk.