The Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) recently welcomed several charitable businesses to their North East base for a special appreciation event in recognition of their incredible support.

In the last financial year, Corporate Partners of the charity from the North East collectively raised more than £235,000, which will be used to help keep GNAAS’ helicopters flying across the region.

Both Corporate Partners and potential future partners were invited to Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees, where the charity’s North East team are based, to celebrate their contribution to the life-saving service.

The event featured talks from GNAAS staff, including CEO Joe Garcia MBE, and the critical care team, as well as a moving account from former patient Samantha Hymers who required the help of the charity after a horrific road traffic collision in 2019.

Guests also received a behind-the-scenes look at the charity’s facilities and aircraft, gaining insight into the scale and impact of its work across the region.

The Corporate Partner scheme is designed to build long-term relationships and help businesses meet their corporate social responsibility goals while also enjoying multiple benefits.

Businesses must raise a minimum of £5,000 to qualify as a Corporate Partner, and there are five packages which range from bronze to diamond, offering varying benefits, from social media spotlights and PR exposure to VIP event packages.

One of the key benefits of becoming a Corporate Partner is the opportunity for businesses to have their logo displayed on the charity’s vehicles for a year.

Those who raise at least £10,000 will have their logo displayed on one of the charity’s rapid response vehicles, but if they raise £25,000 or more, they can have their logo displayed on one of the helicopters which regularly flies across the region, for one year.

Those who have achieved Corporate Partner status at GNAAS for this financial year include HMH Civils, Ramsdens, Royal Station Hotel, Durham County Council Metal Recycling Scheme, Queensway Dental Clinic, Miller Groundbreaking, C. G. Robinson & Sons Ltd, WANDER Film, GMI Construction Group PLC, Universal Tankers, Ruck Engineering, Three Brothers Brewing Company, Sellotts, Go Local – NISA Belle Vue, Lambton Estates, Brocksbushes, AAA Roofing, Opulent Odds Competitions, ICL Boulby, HR2day, Miller Homes.

Vicky Fisher, senior corporate relationship manager at GNAAS, said: “It was great to welcome several of our corporate partners to our headquarters and thank them for their support.

“At the moment our charity needs to raise £9.6m a year to remain operational, so we’re incredibly thankful for their dedication over the past year which has contributed hundreds of thousands of pounds towards our life-saving service.

“Their fundraising efforts will enable our critical care team to continue responding to severely ill and injured people across the region and make a real difference to patients and their families when they need us most.”

Businesses interested in becoming a Corporate Partner can find out information on GNAAS’ website: www.gnaas.com/support-us/fundraising/corporate-giving