(Image: Supplied)
A business leader has raised £65,000 for the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) through three charity balls, including more than £22,000 at the latest event.
Nicky Jolley, founder and managing director of HR2day, reached the milestone after the third ball at Hardwick Hall in Sedgefield on May 16.
More than 230 guests attended the latest ball, building on previous years’ success and delivering a major boost for the life-saving charity.
Ms Jolley said: "I’m incredibly proud that, with the support of everyone involved, this year’s ball raised more than £22,000 and brought the total raised across our three balls for GNAAS to £65,000.
"The Great North Air Ambulance Service means so much to communities across our region, and I’ve always believed it’s important to use our networks, our energy and our businesses to do some good.
"Each ball has brought people together around a cause that really matters, and this milestone belongs to everyone who has supported us along the way."
GNAAS delivers critical care to seriously ill and injured people across the North East, North Yorkshire, Cumbria, the Scottish Borders and the Isle of Man.
Its doctors, paramedics and pilots take advanced medical care to emergencies by air and road.
The charity relies on donations, fundraising events and corporate support to keep operating.
Keeping the service running costs around £9.6 million a year, or more than £25,000 a day.
Money raised at events such as the HR2day Charity Ball helps GNAAS maintain aircraft and response vehicles, buy specialist equipment and keep critical care teams on call.
Ben Sisson, corporate relationship manager at GNAAS, said: "Support from businesses and the wider community is absolutely vital to the work we do.
"We are incredibly grateful to HR2day for raising a staggering £65,000 through three charity balls and enabling our critical care team to continue responding to those in need across the region.
"We would like to thank everyone who supported the events and helped make this incredible contribution possible."
Ms Jolley also thanked everyone who helped make the events happen.
She said: "These events would not happen without the generosity of everyone who has attended, donated, sponsored, bought raffle tickets and supported us over the years.
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"I’m also hugely grateful to my family and our small team of volunteers for helping me bring each ball together.
"To have raised £65,000 for GNAAS is something we can all be incredibly proud of."
HR2day is a North East HR consultancy providing outsourced advice and support to businesses across the region.