A CUMBRIAN business has pledged support for a charity which recently announced it is expected to run a deficit this year.

Appleby-based mortgage advisory company Patrick James Solutions pledged to ‘regularly fundraise’ for the Great North Air Ambulance (GNAAS) after the company’s owner Paddy Glennon, who served in the Royal Signals, was inspired by seeing the ambulance in service after witnessing a motorbike accident.

The air ambulance charity announced it was predicted to run a deficit in 2024, meaning they would have to rely on their own reserves to keep the charity afloat, meaning the business' pledge is especially well-received.

GNAAS said it needs to fundraise over £8million a year to provide life-saving care across its 8000 square miles area it covers, including Cumbria, the Northeast, the borders, and the Isle of Man.

Mr Glennon and his staff have already raised nearly £10,000 doing various fundraisers including a 24-hour treadmill challenge, cake sales, and hiking expeditions.

He said: “I witnessed the amazing pilots and medics from GNAAS a few years ago when I was one of the first people at a serious motorcycle crash.

“It arrived so quickly, well ahead of the other emergency services and the team got to work straight away.

“It left a lasting impression on me just how vital it was for the region and since then I have been a supporter.”

Natasha Banks, specialist fundraiser for GNAAS in Cumbria, said: “It’s amazing that Patrick James Solutions has made a lifelong pledge to support the Great North Air Ambulance Service.

“We are not NHS funded and need to raise approximately £8.5million a year to remain operational.

“Due to the rising cost of our operations, we are likely to run at a deficit this year, which means it’s more important than ever to have the support of businesses, so our charity can continue making a vital difference to people’s lives.”