A County Durham mum is hosting a charity night to mark ten years after the lives of her children were saved following a horrific car crash.
Jack Handyside, 20, and Sophie Handyside, 18, suffered catastrophic injuries following a collision in Staindrop in September 2012.
Two aircrafts from the Great North Air Ambulance (GNAAS) were sent to the incident to deliver advanced critical care, and they requested help from Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
Jack had a bleed on the brain, which was severely swollen, while Sophie suffered a fractured skull and broken wrist.
They were both anaesthetised on scene and airlifted by GNAAS to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, while their father was airlifted to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.
Jack and Sophie’s mother Julie Elstob, from Barnard Castle, said: “They both have traumatic brain injuries and will require 24-hour support for the rest of their lives and will never live independently. Lots of rehab and hard work has got them to where they are today.
“Jack is currently doing volunteering with support at a local animal rescue centre and Sophie is attending college with support doing Health and Social Care.”
Ever since the incident, Ms Elstob, from Barnard Castle, has held several fundraisers in aid of GNAAS and will be hosting an event on October 1, just days after the tenth anniversary of the crash.
She said: “It will be ten years in September since GNAAS’ aircraft were needed for Jack and Sophie.
“Without the air ambulance I believe they wouldn’t be here today. It was the quick work of getting them to hospital and the life-saving treatment that made a difference, so I’m organising another charity evening for them.”
The charity night is on October 1 at Butterknowle Village Hall 7.30pm – midnight and will feature live music and a raffle.
Tickets are £10 which include a pie and peas supper. To buy tickets call Julie on 07707 793954.
GNAAS is dependent on donations to survive and has launched a raffle with a top prize of £10,000 to help it meet rising demand for its services. Tickets cost £1 each and are available now at https://gna.as/2022raffle
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