Friends Vivienne Bussey and Sally Bennison last year raised cash for the Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue team following Mrs Bennison’s Caribbean wedding.
Such was its success, they decided to do it all over again this year, teaming up to hold a fete, raffle and disco over the summer in aid of the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS).
Mrs Bennison explained: “Vivienne was such a great help at the wedding in St Lucia and we enjoyed the first party so much we decided to do it again.”
This year’s edition saw a few new features to boost the coffers.
Mrs Bussey added: “This year we incorporated pig racing after we had it at my daughter’s wedding.”
A raffle, disco and teddy bear sale capped off the August evening with 67 people attending and raising £919.
Mrs Bennison then got her employer, Barclays Bank, to double the total through its charity matched funding scheme.
It costs the GNAAS about £3,000 per helicopter flight when it responds to calls and its service has saved many lives in rural parts of the dale.
Mrs Bussey added: “We had a farmer nearby who was trapped under his trailer and airlifted.
“David Armstrong, from Copley, was ever so grateful when he was injured at work so it affects people locally.”
Laura Simpson, from GNAAS, said the service was kept running by charity fundraisers.
“It’s an amazing sum of money to be raised,” she added.
Mrs Bussey thanked everyone for their support adding they were eager to hold another event next year.
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