An Aycliffe businessman and racehorseowner has donated £4,500 to the region’s air ambulance. John Wade raised the funds at a horse racing event, the South Durham Hunt’s Point-to-Point, held at his home at Howe Hills, near Sedgefield as well as through a number of car boot sales. Mr Wade owns and runs John Wade Group Ltd, which specialises in waste collection, plant hire, recycling and aggregates from its base at Aycliffe Quarry, Aycliffe Village. He also owns a string of racehorses which compete around the country. Mr Wade visited the Great North Air Ambulance Service’s (GNAAS) airbase at Durham Tees Valley Airport on October 28, alongside friends Sheila Summerson and Maria Myco who helped to raise the funds. GNAAS patron, ITV Tyne Tees presenter Pam Royle, accepted the cheque on the charity’s behalf. Mr Wade said: “I think GNAAS is a good cause and I love to support the charity. Being part of the racing community, the air ambulance can be needed at any time and any one of us might have to call on its services someday. It plays an important role in the North East.” Mandy Drake, head of fundraising at GNAAS, said: “John is a long-term supporter of GNAAS and is always keen to help. Without support such as this, we would not be able to continue to fly and so it is credit to him, and others like him, that we’re able to do what we do.”
IN PHOTO: Left to right: Pilot Keith Armatage, Pam Royle, John Wade, paramedic Andy Mawson, Sheila Summerson, Maria Myco, Dr. Dion Arbid.
