Opera Bingo raises £1,700 for Great North Air Ambulance

Lex, Martyn, and Joan handing over the cheque to GNAAS <i>(Image: Supplied)</i>
Lex, Martyn, and Joan handing over the cheque to GNAAS (Image: Supplied)
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OPERA Bingo has raised £1,700 for the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) with a charity night.

Opera Bingo, which operates clubs across Cumbria, raised the money by hosting a special charity night at its location in Denton Holme, Carlisle in October 2025.

At the event, prize that were collected by 90-year-old bingo regular Joan Potts and her granddaughter were raffled to raise funds for GNAAS.

On Thursday, February 12, Opera Bingo Carlisle's general manager Lex Halliwell, manager Martyn Wingfield, and Joan personally delivered a cheque for £1,700 to GNAAS' base at Langwathby where the funds were gratefully accepted by paramedics Bobby and Laura.

"We are thrilled to support what it such a wonderful cause," Lex said, speaking to the News & Star.

"It touches the hearts of a lot of our customers and our staff here at Opera Bingo.

"It is a charity that we have supported for many years and it is wonderful to give back to them."

After receiving the donation, GNAAS' community fundraiser Deborah Usher thanked Opera Bing for their generosity.

She said: "We are incredibly grateful to Lex and Martyn from Opera Bingo in Carlisle for raising £1,700 at their charity night. It was a pleasure to meet them, and their regular Joan, who kindly sourced prizes for the event with the help of her granddaughter.

"The money they've raised will enable our critical care team to continue helping those in need across the region."

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