In an extraordinary display of determination and community spirit, members of the Drigg & District Young Farmers Club completed an incredible 78-mile journey from Drigg to Langwathby this summer — pushing and pulling “Welly the Heli,” a replica helicopter, across Cumbria to raise funds for the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS).
The journey, which began in July, saw the team travel through towns and villages across the county, including through the streets of Penrith on Sunday 20th July. The group even pushed and pulled their helicopter up Fell Lane onto Beacon Edge before heading off on the final leg to Langwathby, home of the GNAAS.
Yesterday afternoon (Sunday 26th October), the young farmers returned to Langwathby to present a cheque for an astonishing £100,000 — the total raised through months of fundraising efforts and community support.
A spokesperson for Drigg & District Young Farmers said:
“We have been blown away by the support Welly the Heli has been given by the Cumbrian community. We were shocked to learn it costs £25,000 a day to run the air ambulance, but we know how vital it is in saving lives across our rural area.”
“Our goal at the start of our journey was to fund at least one day’s running costs. When our celebration night on Friday revealed we’d reached £96,410.68, we knew we had to push just a bit further — and thanks to our incredible sponsors, we made it to £100,000!”
“The sense of pride from achieving that total is unbelievable — and to learn that the Drigg YFC logo will be displayed on one of the air ambulances in 2026 had us bursting with joy.”
The group extended heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported their efforts: “Thank you to each and every person who sponsored us — from Kieran’s tub of pocket money to the many generous donations that made this journey possible. We couldn’t have done it without you.”
The Great North Air Ambulance Service, which operates entirely on charitable donations, provides a vital lifeline for communities across Cumbria and beyond.
As a special thankyou the Great North Air Ambulance revealed on Sunday that the Drigg & District Young Farmers logo will early in 2026 be fixed to the back of the air ambulance and will fly across Cumbria on the air ambulance as it continues to provide life saving services across the county with the support of the £100,000 provided by the determination and teamwork of the Drigg & District Young Farmers and their “Welly the Heli”.
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