Member Article

Great North Air Ambulance launches annual car raffle

Jennings Motor Group has donated a brand new motor to the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) for their annual car raffle campaign.

The motor dealer group, which operates Kia, Ford, Mazda, SEAT and Mitsubishi dealerships across the region, in addition to a Harley-Davidson® branch in West Yorkshire, has pledged its support to the charity for the duration of 2016.

Initially, fundraising was kick-started at the beginning of the year with a £2,000 donation, which was presented to the charity by Jennings Motor Group’s managing director, Nas Khan and his PA, Bev Stephenson.

The charity, which provides air ambulance services across the North East, North Yorkshire and Cumbria, has teamed up with the region’s motor dealer group to officially launch its sixth consecutive car raffle promotion.

Members of the public will be given the opportunity to win a brand new Kia Rio ‘1’ model worth £10,345, courtesy of Jennings Motor Group’s Stockton and Washington-based Kia dealerships.

Mandy Drake, head of fundraising at GNAAS, said; “We would like to offer our whole-hearted thanks to Jennings Motor Group for donating the car. We were stunned when they came up with the idea.

“As ever, all the proceeds will be used to support the work of our helicopters and their life-saving crew across the entire region. By buying a ticket, members of the public are making a very real contribution to the service, while giving themselves a chance at winning a new car. It’s a win-win.”

The GNAAS car raffle campaign has raised £687,616 since 2011. The annual event also brings significant exposure to the charity, with the brand new motor being on display at a range of outdoor events throughout the region, and tens of thousands of supporters being mailed tickets over the summer months.

Nas Khan, managing director of Jennings Motor Group, said; “We are absolutely delighted to be supporting both the charity and their annual car raffle by donating a brand new car from the popular Kia range. I’m sure the promotion will be a huge success and contribute towards generating essential funds for such a worthy cause.”

Specification on the 3-door Kia Rio supermini model includes, Bluetooth® with music streaming, DAB radio plus USB and AUX ports, electronic stability control (ESC and vehicle stability management (VSM), twin front, side and curtain airbags, steering wheel mounted controls, trip computer, body coloured door mirrors and exterior door handles, front electric windows, remote central door locking with fold-away key and hill-start assist control (HAC). The brand new motor also comes with Kia’s seven year peace of mind warranty package, 12 months road fund licence and 12 months roadside assistance.

GNAAS operates three helicopters, 365 days a year across its bases at Durham Tees Valley and Langwathby, near Penrith, Cumbria. Last year it rescued 818 patients.

Car raffle tickets are £1 each and can be purchased online or by contacting 01325 487263. The closing date for entries is November 7 and the draw will take place on December 1.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Gwynneth McIntyre .