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The Great North Air Ambulance was celebrating, as it was presented with a cheque for more than £23,000 by a committee of businesswomen focused on a positive future.

New Beginnings, a group created by Nicky Jolley, founder and managing director of HR2day, Alice Maguire and Amanda Marsden held a ball for local business people at Hardwick Hall and took donations on the night for the charity.

More than 200 people attended the event, and enjoyed a three-course meal, dancing and an auction.

Nicky, Alice and Amanda met Gordon Ingram, head of operations at the Great North Air Ambulance, to hand over the cheque.

Nicky said:

“The last couple of years have been really hard on everyone and we wanted to do something to get together and have some fun while raising money for an incredible charity.”

Alice said:

“During lockdown, we had the idea that people needed something to look forward to when things got better, and what’s more enjoyable than a big black-tie gala? I’m so proud of everyone involved and we raised even more money than we anticipated.”

Amanda said:

“The Great North Air Ambulance Service isn’t NHS funded but does amazing essential work every day. We’re delighted to be able to give them such a significant donation to help them save lives next year.”

Nicky added:

“My team at HR2day already does a lot of fundraising activities because we feel it’s incredibly important to give back to the community. I’m delighted to be involved with New Beginnings as well, to help raise even more money for great causes.”

Gordon Ingram, head of operations at the Great North Air Ambulance, said:

“It’s fantastic to receive such a huge amount of money from the New Beginnings ball. They’ve raised a phenomenal amount and we are truly humbled to receive it.

“We run solely on donations from the public – every penny, every cream cake sold, every ball that’s run, it all goes towards providing vital lifesaving critical care to the patients and people who need it throughout the North.”

The next New Beginnings ball will be hosted on 7 October 2022 in aid of the Caron Keating Foundation.

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