HUDDERSFIELD Town and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance are closing in on their £1m charity target.
The amount raised for the Keep It Up campaign has passed an incredible £750,000.
And with the next instalment of the charity’s annual Pedal for Pounds challenge approaching, the £1 million goal could be just months away.
The yearly fundraising total has been increasing since the campaign’s inception back in the summer of 2009.
The money, which is shared between the Terrier’s Academy and the emergency helicopter service, has shot up from £120,000 in the first year to £251,514 in year two and £340,000 in the third year.
Huddersfield Town’s supporter partnerships manager, Robyn Deegan, thanked Town fans for their contribution to the cause.
She said:“The Yorkshire Air Ambulance must find £7,200 per day to keep their two helicopters in the air and it’s fantastic to think that the generosity of Huddersfield Town fans has helped to save lives across our region.
“That makes all the effort of individuals and the club worthwhile.
“Similarly, the Huddersfield Town Academy gives players the opportunity of a career in professional football.
“You simply have to look at our current first team to see the benefits with the likes of Alex Smithies and Jack Hunt playing such big roles in our promotion and the current Championship campaign.
“I’d like to thank everyone that has made a contribution to the campaign on behalf of the club.”
Several large events have been the stand-out fundraisers for the cause, with the Pedal for Pounds events leading the way.
In three years, the number of participants has increased from the initial 22 that cycled from Huddersfield to Southend in 2009 to an incredible 290 that will take part in this season’s tour of Yorkshire from Wednesday to Saturday May 1-4.
Walk for Pounds also raised an impressive £27,000 in March 2011 as 180 fans strode 27 miles from Huddersfield to Bury, with the fundraising figure from the second walk – from Huddersfield to Barnsley earlier this season – due to be announced next week.
Run for Pounds – a 10k run around Huddersfield in March 2012 – also topped the £20k mark.
Less athletic events including Town’s annual Christmas Celebrations at Wakefield Cathedral and Halifax Minster and the Bag It Up recycling campaign have also contributed more than £30,000 apiece to the cause.
Town fans have also been encouraged to hold their own events through the Knights of Yorkshire campaign, with Peter and Jan Swallow’s garden parties being among the forefront of the fundraising efforts.
To donate to the Keep It Up campaign, please visit www.justgiving.com/keepitupcampaign or text KIUP99 £5 to 70070.
