Emergency service workers take on the Great North Run to raise funds for the Yorkshire Ambulance Service Charity

Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) employees will be amongst the 60,000 runners taking part in the 13.1-mile stretch from the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne to South Shields this Sunday (13 September).

Julie Armitage is an Ambulance Practitioner who juggles working for YAS whilst studying for an apprenticeship with Teesside University to become a Paramedic. Meanwhile, Kimberley Swart helps manage the NHS 111 service, delivered by YAS, and Lesley Butterworth oversees the Patient Experience and Nursing arm of the service.  

They are three of the seven runners taking part for the Yorkshire Ambulance Service Charity (YAS Charity) this year. The charity’s aim is to help save more lives across Yorkshire by enabling everyone to respond in a medical emergency. As well as supporting work in communities and schools, the charity goes the extra mile for YAS staff and volunteers through initiatives that benefit their health and wellbeing.

Lesley, Associate Director of Patient Experience and Nursing based at YAS Trust Headquarters in Wakefield, has worked for the Trust for nine years.   

She said: "I am proud to be fundraising for the Yorkshire Ambulance Service Charity.

“I have seen first-hand the difference the charity makes in supporting patients, volunteers and staff across Yorkshire Ambulance Service."

Lesley, originally from North Yorkshire, added: “Over the past few months, I have completed a couple of 10km races and a nine-mile trail race to help increase my mileage and confidence ahead of race day.” 

Meanwhile Kimberley, Operational Service Manager - Remote Patient Care, said she is taking part in the Great North Run as a personal goal having never been into running before May last year.

Kimberley works both at the YAS Trust Headquarters in Wakefield, and at another YAS site in Rotherham, a town where she also lives.  

She said: “When the opportunity came along to take on a half marathon, while also raising money for a great cause, I thought, why not? Training has been going really well, mostly because I get to reward myself with chocolate after a long run!” 

Julie said she is proud to work for YAS and wanted to give something back.

She said: “I’ve chosen to raise money for YAS Charity because it’s a cause that is very close to my heart. Knowing that every mile I run helps support Yorkshire Ambulance Service staff, volunteers and communities across Yorkshire makes the challenge even more worthwhile.”

Julie, who lives in Keighley, added: “I’ve never considered myself a runner. Two and a half years ago, I started Couch to 5K, completed it, and my then crewmate and very good friend suggested we sign up for the London Landmarks Half Marathon the following April. That gave me the motivation to keep going and see how far I could take my running. Since then, the Great North Run will be our third half marathon together.

“My husband and I were recently in Paris celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary, and I thought it would be nice to make the most of being somewhere different and incorporate some of the city’s landmarks into my run. Of course, my YAS Charity t-shirt had to come along too!”

Head of YAS Charity, Carey Taylor, said: “We are incredibly grateful to all of the runners taking on the Great North Run for the YAS Charity.  The YAS Charity goes above and beyond NHS-funded work and relies entirely on donations and fundraising to keep delivering its vital work. If you can spare the money to support our runners in this year’s Great North Run, we would be hugely appreciative.”  

To support all the YAS runners, visit the YAS Charity Great North Run 2026 - JustGiving page. To find out more about the charity, visit the YAS Charity website.