A RUNNER from Whitnash taken on a half marathon for two causes close to her heart.
Rachel Brown raised more than £3,000 for Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA) and Central England Brain Injury Charity.
The 38-year-old saw the air ambulance in action after she was the first person to reach a cyclist in critical condition following a crash with a van.
Rachel said: “I was desperate for help, and I am thankful for everyone who did help, but he needed urgent medical attention quickly and no amount of first aid training was going to be enough.”
The air ambulance paramedics took over on arrival and treated the patient, and he arrived at the hospital in just over an hour.
Rachel, who is head of marketing at Warwick-based Baxi heating, added: “He suffered multiple injuries, including a brain injury and I have since learned that the air ambulance probably saved his life that day.”
“I was really pleased to be able to complete the half marathon in just over two hours.
“The fund-raiser was my way of giving back and I feel incredibly proud and thankful for being able to raise so much money for those who provided such vital care to the patient.”
Air ambulance community fund-raising executive Lee Bunting said: “Rachel really is an inspiration, not only for running a long distance but for how much she wanted to help the patient that day, and then help our charity and CERU by raising those vital funds.
“WNAA is a charity which relies on public donations and fundraisers, and support like Rachel’s is more vital now than ever before as the charity is set to receive two brand new replacement helicopters early next year in order to continue providing its lifesaving service.”
