Colleagues of Carlisle born Gas Operative Steven Higgins will be taking on a rigorous four day challenge to raise money for the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) and South Tees Hospitals Charity, following a tragic incident which left Steven with severe long term injuries.
On Friday, 11 April colleagues from Northern Gas Networks (NGN) will charge down the ball in the VETS 10’s which precedes the world famous Melrose 7’s rugby tournament before embarking on a three day gruelling walking challenge from Scotland to Carlisle, home to Steven and his family.
At just age 24, Steven was involved in a serious accident while working for NGN’s maintenance team. A speeding BMW, which fled the scene, caused a head on collision with the van that he was travelling in. Thanks to the immediate response by the Great North Air Ambulance Service, who flew him from the scene to the critical care unit at The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, a year on from the incident Steven has made an exceptional recovery.
The charity challenge will see Martin Alderson, Director of Asset Risk Management, Howard Forster, Director of Customer Operations, Andy Irwin, Regional Manager, Tom Notman, Head of Customer Operation and Connections and Nick Phillips, Business Improvement trek across Northumbria’s undulating hills to raise money for the organisations who were so critical to Stevens early care.
Howard Forster, Customer Operations Director, NGN, commented: “I am delighted to be able to organise this event in honour of Steve. Last year, thanks to the fantastic support of colleagues, we raised over £4,000 for the Higgins family as well as the organisations that helped Steve following his accident. We hope we can build on the success of last year’s fundraiser and encourage everyone to get behind this great cause.”
Suzi Campbell from South Tees Hospitals Charity said: “We are delighted that Northern Gas Networks are once again supporting us through a rugby event and taking on the 90 mile challenge, we wish them all the best for their forthcoming events.
She continued: “We much appreciate this helping hand and the money raised will benefit future patients in critical care at The James Cook University Hospital.”
If you’d like to support us in raising money for these two great causes, please make a donation to our JustGiving pages below.
http://www.justgiving.com/JamesCookHospitalStevenHiggins
http://www.justgiving.com/GreatNorthAirAmbulanceStevenHiggins
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