Press releases

Two drivers from local bus company Arriva Yorkshire are hoping to raise funds for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance charity this summer with an eight day walk from St Bees Head, Cumbria, to Robin Hood Bay, North Yorkshire.

Richard Chapman and David Appleyard will be starting the walk from coast to coast on the 2 July finishing on the 9 July, covering a total of 189 miles. This amazing feat has been carried out previously in 9 days, this time the walkers, who are members of 'The Sloggers and Slurpers' walking club, will be looking to complete the distance in just 8.

As part of the fundraising drivers from Arriva's Dewsbury Depot will be holding a raffle which will be open to the general public. They will also be carrying out collections at local supermarkets, where they will be packing customers' shopping bags in exchange for donations.

Yorkshire's Air Ambulance Service is almost entirely funded by voluntary donations and with operating costs of approximately £1.3 million per year the walkers wanted to show their support for this great cause.

David Appleyard said:

We are really looking forward to the walk, it is going to be hard work, especially as the kit we are carrying weighs over 27kg. We are going to be completely alone out there but we have been training hard and we are positive it's going to be a great success.

Richard Chapman added:

We have been told that we should dip our feet in the Irish Sea at the start and in the North Sea at the end. They're really going to need a soak at the finish, so it sounds like a great idea to me!

Paul Gowland, fundraising director for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said:

We are very proud that Arriva Yorkshire employees have chosen to support us. It's a perfect, local partnership and we look forward to the event being a great success. We are always astounded by the enthusiasm and support we receive from members of the community.

Sponsorship forms are available from Dewsbury Travel Centre.

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Note to editors

• The Yorkshire Air Ambulance, which is based at Leeds/Bradford Airport, costs £1.3m a year to run (£3,500 a day) and relies predominantly on voluntary donations.
• It has been saving lives across the county since October 2000, during which time it has flown more than 5,000 missions and transported more than 800 people to hospital.
• With a maximum speed of 154mph, no winding lines or traffic jams to contend with, the air ambulance can fly patients to a specialist treatment centre within minutes.
• Anyone who would like to help with fundraising or make a donation, should call the Yorkshire Air Ambulance charity office on 0845 120 6060.