Farm family’s rescues inspire Great North Air Ambulance fund

Hannah Kennedy, 25, from Gilsland, in Northumberland, decided to raise funds for the (GNAAS) by running the Great North Run and organising a breakfast event in her community.

Her support was sparked by two separate emergencies at her family’s remote farm, located near Hadrian’s Wall, where the air ambulance played a crucial role.

Her father, Leslie Kennedy, 75, was seriously injured in February 2023 when a trailer attached to a quad bike slid down a hill and trapped his leg.

The helicopter on scene in Gilsland Feb 2023 (Image: GNAAS)

He said: “I knew my son, who works with us, would be here soon and he eventually came.

“They got the trailer off me and it was obvious that my leg was in a position that it shouldn’t be.

“When he assessed the situation, he said they would need to request the air ambulance because they couldn’t get a land vehicle to me.

“The next thing I knew I was waking up in a helicopter and being taken to the RVI.

“I cannot praise the NHS, the paramedics, the air ambulance, and mountain rescue enough.”

Hannah Kennedy at the Great North Run 2025 (Image: GNAAS)

A paramedic attended the scene after emergency services were called, and Hannah helped transport her father using another quad bike.

Two GNAAS paramedics and a doctor arrived and found Mr Kennedy had suffered an open tibia and fibula fracture.

They gave him advanced pain relief and realigned his leg, which was positioned at a 180-degree angle.

With help from the local mountain rescue team, Mr Kennedy was carried to the helicopter and flown to the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in Newcastle in around 15 minutes.

He underwent surgery to insert a 30-centimetre steel plate and four screws, and later received 30 stitches.

After ten days in hospital and further treatment for an infection, his leg has since healed.

The family’s connection to GNAAS goes back even further.

Hannah’s brother John, now 28, was also airlifted to hospital when he was younger following a serious quad bike incident that left him unconscious and with a damaged kidney.

Inspired by these experiences and others within her community, Hannah decided to raise funds for the service.

In addition to running the Great North Run, she organised a bucket collection at a local show and helped set up a breakfast brunch, with proceeds split between GNAAS and a ward at the RVI.

She said: “From 10 in the morning until two in the afternoon the big breakfast event was full non-stop.

“There were parents, friends, and people I didn’t even know, all coming together to enjoy a cooked breakfast.

“Gilsland and the surrounding areas are such a strong community, and we were overwhelmed by the amount of people that turned up and gave donations, as well as those who couldn’t make it but still donated.”

The event was supported by local businesses, members of the public, and the Kennedy and Main families, who donated food, time, and even the venue.

She said: “The support we received from our family and local businesses was unreal and it was a lovely thing to be a part of.

“GNAAS are heroes and we think everyone who gave money to our event are also heroes.”

Mr Kennedy agreed, and praised the wider public for their support.

He said: “The public deserve huge praise for supporting services like GNAAS and the RVI.”

Hannah and her father have since visited the GNAAS base in Langwathby, where they presented a cheque and met members of the critical care team.

She said: “We see the air ambulance all the time responding to farmers and walkers and understand how much of a difference they make in rural communities like ours.

“It was nice to meet the crew and see the helicopter and know that this money is going to such an amazing service.”

GNAAS have launched an appeal called Operation SOS: Secure Our Service and need to raise £2.5 million to secure the deposit for a third new helicopter. Find out more on their website.