The inspirational efforts made by a Yorkshire mother in memory of her son

A mother from Kirklees has raised more than £100,000 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance in memory of her son.

Jan Swallow, 67, “turned her grief into a positive force” after her son Graham Wallow died in a fatal motorbike crash on the A57 Snake Pass. Graham hit a road sign on the road linking Sheffield and Manchester, which is well known for its sharp bends. He fell off his bike and into a steep gully on the side of the road, with the bike hanging from a tree above him.

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance critical care team provided crucial support at the scene, including extracting Graham from the ditch, which took almost an hour. Graham was taken to Sheffield Northern General Hospital, where he later died. Since his death in 2007, Jan has led a 14-year fundraising campaign for the organization that gave her son the best chance of survival.

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“I have turned my grief into a positive force for this incredible charity,” said the mother from Holmfirth. “I always think about how someone else’s fundraising enabled the air ambulance to take care of my son, and now I see my efforts paying it forward for others who need YAA’s help.”

Jan’s first fundraising challenge was in 2009 when she took part in a charity skydive. Jumping from 13,000ft, she raised more than £1,700 as part of Huddersfield Town’s ‘Keep It Up’ campaign, which saw the funds split between the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the club’s academy.

Jan now takes part in over 20 fundraising events a year and has now brought his total efforts to an impressive £100,069. Jan said: “When we started fundraising it was more of a ‘let’s see how much we can achieve’ mentality. Now, it has become an integral part of my life. This work is both my passion and my therapy, giving me a way to cope and find purpose.”

Jan and her husband Peter are also dedicated volunteers with the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and often help the charity’s fundraising teams at key events throughout the year.

She said: “When my son Graham was studying Fine Art and Photography at university, he was tasked with creating a symbol and a word to represent himself. He chose the word “Evolve”. I see this as a fitting metaphor for my journey and the evolution of YAA, which has grown significantly as a service and is set to celebrate its 25th anniversary next year.”

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Yorkshire Air Ambulance chairman Mike Harrop said: “Jan’s dedication is truly outstanding and we are extremely grateful for his outstanding efforts. Breaking the £100,000 mark is an incredible achievement, highlighting her unwavering commitment to our charity.

“Over the last 14 years, Jan’s fundraising has played an indispensable role, making a significant contribution to ensuring that we can support the highest standards of pre-hospital critical care for those in need, leaving a lasting mark on our organization .

“Her story serves as a powerful testament to the profound impact one individual can have. As we approach our 25th anniversary, we encourage others to take inspiration from Jan and think about how they too can contribute to our mission, whether that’s through volunteering, giving support, or getting promoted of awareness.”

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