Acrobats, circus performers and stilt walkers helped boost a housebuilder’s fundraising for a life-saving charity.
Penrith-based Genesis Homes pulled out all the stops to bring its year of raising money to support the Great North Air Ambulance Service to an extravagant finale courtesy of its Bohemian Ball at Carlisle Racecourse.
Business associates and supporters of Genesis Homes turned up in their hundreds to boost the fundraising total and were treated to a show stopping performance from Carlisle-based Explosive Productions, which included singing, dancing and circus skills.
With the money raised at the ball added to activities held throughout the year, just under £13,000 will be donated to the service.
Jo Atkinson, a social responsibility team member who has led on Genesis Homes’ fundraising efforts, said: “The air ambulance is a truly life-saving service which is dependent on donations from the public, so to be able to support the amazing and inspirational work it carries out every day of the year is extremely fulfilling.
“Members of our team have experienced how vital the work of the air ambulance is in emergency situations and we were keen to raise as much money as possible throughout the year to ensure the crews can continue to save lives.
“It’s with thanks to members of the public, our staff and attendees of the Bohemian Ball that we have managed to raise so much to donate to the cause, and we are thrilled that all our events have been so well supported.”
To help boost the fundraising total, Genesis Homes staff members have organised a number of activities including bake-offs, golf competitions and a sponsored 20-mile walk around Ullswater Way.
In July, eight members of the team cycled in a relay format to and from some of the company’s completed or ongoing housing developments, covering a combined distance of 80 miles.
Nicky Gordon, managing director of Genesis Homes, said: “I am immensely proud of all our team members who have gone above and beyond to raise a great amount of money for such an amazing charity.”
Celebrating its 20th birthday in 2021, the air ambulance operates throughout Cumbria, the North East and North Yorkshire and is called out to thousands of emergencies each year. The estimated annual cost of operations is £7.7m, with the average cost of each call-out around £4,500. All of its funding comes from public donations.
Lee Salmon, head of operations in the west for the air ambulance, said: “Great North Air Ambulance is a charity with a strategic aim to impact more in our communities, saving more lives, reducing individuals suffering and giving immediate access to highly trained critical care teams and techniques.
“We aren’t a government-funded asset so we are reliant on many forms of fundraising, from personal to corporate support, and Genesis Homes set the bar extremely high in 2022.
“Despite the current economic crisis, the entire Genesis team, customers and collaborators have supported the Great North Air Ambulance with several superb events. I’m truly humbled by the lengths the team at Genesis has gone to and my hope is that our teams go on to save many more lives because of this fantastic financial support Genesis Homes has given.”
