Be a superhero and help our lifesaving heroes of the skies.

That’s our plea to you today, as we launch a big fun fundraiser for The Cumberland News ’ SkyCall Appeal.

We would like as many of you as possible to dress as your favourite superhero for a day, in a striking show of support for the Great North Air Ambulance Service and its Pride of Cumbria helicopter.

Your backing of SkyCall so far has already been an heroic effort.

Your generosity has already allowed us to buy the crew two new pieces of critical equipment and we’re edging towards being able to buy them two more state-of-the-art pieces of kit.

But now we’re asking you – literally – to show what superheroes you really are.

Friday, October 23, will be SkyCall Superheroes Day. And we hope to see north Cumbria awash with caped crusaders – supermen and women, spider boys and girls – to show just how much we value the valiant efforts of our sky medics.

All we ask is that for every school, workplace or group of friends who take part, each person gives a £1 donation to SkyCall and you send the money in.

On top of that, you could hold other fundraising activities as part of the day – raffles, draws or cake sales, for example – to boost your donation to the appeal.

We’ll visit place that take part in the day, take your pictures, share your success and show the county who our SkyCall superheroes are.

Kingmoor Junior School in Carlisle is first to show its support.

They have already sampled some of the spirit thanks to some brilliant costumes loaned from the fantastic team at Struts Party Superstore in Carlisle, who stock a vast array of superhero and other costumes.

Jonathan Harvey, deputy headteacher, said: “It’s just a fantastic opportunity to support such a good cause.The Superheroes day will really tap into the children’s imaginations. The air ambulance crews are real-life superheroes so it seems fitting.”

Medics who crew the Langwathby-based Pride of Cumbria hope that many more schools and workplaces will follow.

The school that raises the most money on the day will receive a special visit from the Pride of Cumbria helicopter (subject to operational demands).

Paramedic Andy Dalton, who flies on the aircraft, said: “The response to the SkyCall campaign is an inspiration to us.

“It will enable us to improve the level of care we offer even further. It will save lives in the long run.”

The impact of SkyCall cannot be underestimated. With your help, we’re raising £60,000 for the Pride of Cumbria.

The first £20,000 has already been spent on buying two high-tech portable ultrasounds – one carried on-board the helicopter, the other in its sister rapid response car.

The next £40,000, which we’re now raising with your help, will be spent on buying two state-of-the-art defibrillators.