MEDICS worked up a sweat during the 2.6 Challenge to raise £2,800 for The Air Ambulance.
Critical care paramedics Sophie Birt and Gavin Alexander and Dr Stuart Maitland-Knibb took to the runway at Coventry Airport and ran the 26.2 mile marathon distance, while critical care paramedic Adam Nash completed a 260km cycle on his turbo bike – all to raise vital funds needed to keep the service flying.
With the London Marathon cancelled, the event coincided with a national effort which saw people take part in an activity based around the numbers 2.6 or 26 in support of charities nationwide.
The Air Ambulance Service – which operates Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA), Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance (DLRAA) and Children’s Air Ambulance (TCAA) – is helping save lives with their dedicated crews continuing their lifesaving missions through the pandemic – providing vital, critical care support to the NHS.
The coronavirus pandemic has had a significant impact on the charity. Due to the closure of its retail division, the suspension of its reuse kerbside collection service and the postponement of its door-to-door lottery canvassing, the charity is facing a projected net loss of more than £2million for the months April to June.
In total the challenge raised more than £13,000 for the charity.
Sophie said: “We continue to support the NHS through our frontline, lifesaving services and as a healthcare charity, which receives no government funding, we rely solely on donations from the public.
“The challenge was tough but the charity needs your support now more than ever before to continue the fight to help save lives. We’d like to thank everyone who took part in their own fund-raising challenge and those who have donated on our crew’s JustGiving page – it is truly appreciated.”
Visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/air-ambulance-crew-s-2-6-challenge to donate to the critical care crew.
Visit www.theairambulanceservice.org.uk to find out more about helping keep The Air Ambulance flying.
