A woman raised more than £50,000 for Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) after deciding to forgo birthday gifts in favour of donations.

Mirfield resident, Marieke Haigh, was one of many people recognised for their fundraising efforts at the charity's annual Recognition Awards.

The event was held on October 17 at the Cedar Court Hotel in Bradford, and saw more than 200 people attend.

Ms Haigh's fundraising efforts began in 2023 when she decided to decline gifts for her 50th birthday and instead asked for donations to YAA.

The initiative blossomed into a large-scale auction with prizes donated by local businesses.

The final event, complete with live music, a fairground carousel, and a cameo singing performance by Ms Haigh herself, raised £50,500 for YAA and a local hospice.

Ms Haigh was one of a number of individuals and organisations recognised at the awards.

Other winners included Julie Sutton (Volunteer of the Year), Rosemont Pharmaceuticals and Yorkshire Garden Centres (Corporate Supporters Award), The Bramhope Trust (Grants and Trusts Award), and Jan Swallow (Chairman's Award).

Julie Sutton, from Pudsey, has been a volunteer since 2019, especially at YAA’s pop-up shop in the St John’s Centre in Leeds.

Rosemont Pharmaceuticals, based in Leeds and specialising in liquid medicine, has been a generous supporter of YAA since 2014 through their Foundation, contributing an impressive £143,000 to date.

The Bramhope Trust, a small charitable organisation based in Leeds, has supported YAA every year since 2010, with donations now exceeding £67,000.

Jan Swallow, from Honley, received the Chairman’s Award for her fundraising efforts, which have seen more than £103,000 raised in memory of her son, Graham, who sadly passed away after a motorbike accident in 2007.

Her efforts began with a skydive, and evolved into crafting and selling handmade items with her mother, Jean, under the name "J2Crafts."

Interim regional fundraising manager for West and South Yorkshire, Helen Berriman, said: "The Recognition Awards not only celebrate the incredible contributions made by our supporters but also highlight the strength of community spirit that drives our fundraising efforts.

"Each story we highlight reinforces the idea that together, we can achieve remarkable things.

"It’s heart-warming to see so many individuals and groups rallying behind Yorkshire Air Ambulance and demonstrating their commitment to making a difference."

For more information about Yorkshire Air Ambulance and opportunities to support, visit www.yaa.org.uk