THE FAMILY of a woman who died in a horse riding accident have given back more than £100,000 to Midlands Air Ambulance through a decade of fundraising efforts.
Charlotte Cole, a former head girl at Claire Dyson Racing and Rehabilitation, was just 23-years-old when she died following a gallops accident in 2011.
And ever since, her parents Roger and Diane Cole and her sister Stephanie have been raising cash alongside Charlotte’s former colleagues at Claire Dyson Racing through a host of fundraising initiatives.
Activities have included open days at Froglands Stud Farm, annual sponsorship of a race in Charlotte’s memory at Stratford Racecourse and evening events.
The total raised has now reached £103,000 which was officially handed over to Midlands Air Ambulance Charity with a cheque presentation ceremony at Stratford Racecourse recently.
The cash is enough to fund dozens of air ambulances and critical care missions in the region.
Hanna Sebright, chief executive for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, said: “Sadly, our advanced critical care paramedics and doctors are called out to a horse rider in desperate need of enhanced pre-hospital care every week, so support from the equestrian community is critical to maintaining our service in the rural communities we serve.
“The Cole family and Claire Dyson are very dear to us at Midlands Air Ambulance Charity and we are continually grateful for their unfaltering support of our organisation. Their milestone £103,000 donation over the last ten years has enabled us to assist more than 60 patients in their critical hour of need at the scene of their incident.”
Claire Dyson added: “While the reason we fundraise for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity is out of tragic loss, we are extremely proud to have reached this incredible milestone having supported the charity over the last decade. We would like to offer our enormous thanks to the many people who have supported our fundraising activities. Their unwavering support and kindness has been very much appreciated and gives us some comfort in honouring Charlotte’s memory.”
