STUDENTS at a North Yorkshire school are on cloud nine after handing over more than £9,000 raised during their charity week.
School officers, led by the head boy and head girl at Ripon Grammar School, organised the annual week of events to raise money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
The "astonishing" total of £9,108.98 was presented to regional fundraising manager Helen Gowans in an assembly where she told the school that it would fund the life-saving air ambulance operation for almost a full day rescuing, on average, up to four people.
"It's amazing, we are so thrilled," she said. "What the students have achieved is essentially to keep our ambulance in the air for a day, covering the cost of aviation fuel, the helicopter and the pilots.
"It's an astonishing achievement and I hope they are very proud of themselves because they should be. We are really stunned and send a massive thank you to everyone."
The students also got a sneak preview of the new Yorkshire Air Ambulance, which is currently being built in Germany and will cost £5.6m. It is due to take off next year.
In addition to the investment, the air ambulance needs £4.4m a year to operate, equivalent to a donation of just 80p a year from every Yorkshire resident.
Head boy James Donaldson, 17, who Mrs Gowans said was so professional she thought he was a teacher, said: "We organised all sorts of events including a ‘Would I Lie to You?’ game show, an assault course in the sports hall, a talent show and a first year film night, as well as smaller fundraising activities, and the teachers took part in their own panto.
"We hope everyone enjoyed the week and had a great time fundraising for a fantastic cause."
Headmaster Martin Pearman added: "I'd like to say well done to our sixth form team for their tremendous work, and to all our students for their support which enabled them to raise such an amazing amount”.
The final total from Ripon Grammar School will be supplemented further following a collection at its Christmas carol service in Ripon Cathedral next week.
