FUNDRAISERS are being urged to throw their weight behind Yorkshire Day - by raising stacks of cash for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

The charity - which has annual running costs of £1m - will embrace Yorkshire Day on August 1 as its main money-spinning extravaganza of the year.

A series of high-profile events have already been organised, and companies, groups and individuals are being encouraged to get involved.

The ambulance has been saving lives across the county since October 2000, during which time it has been scrambled more than 2,600 times, carried about 500 patients to hospital and assisted with more than 1,700 incidents.

John Sutherland, director of fundraising for Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said he was delighted the charity has been named as the event's official beneficiary.

He said: "We want to create a party atmosphere throughout the whole of Yorkshire to celebrate the life-saving work of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the county's heritage.

"The air ambulance heavily depends upon the generosity of local communities within Yorkshire to sustain this vital service. We would be delighted if people would get behind us by organising a fundraiser on Yorkshire Day."

Yorkshire Day organisers joined forces with charity bosses following a suggestion by David Holmes, corporate affairs manager for Yorkshire Building Society, which has been involved in the annual event for the last 10 years.

Mr Holmes said: "We got involved with the Yorkshire Air Ambulance earlier this year when the Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation donated money for a computer. Because the charity exists to serve Yorkshire residents, it seemed like a perfect idea for people throughout the county to be encouraged to raise funds for the invaluable service on Yorkshire Day."

Anyone interested in organising a fundraising event to mark Yorkshire Day can contact the Yorkshire Air Ambulance Charity Office on 0845 1 20 60 60. Further information on the actual event can be obtained by visiting www.yorkshirenet.co.uk/yorkshireday

Updated: 08:45 Tuesday, June 17, 2003