Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
I’m looking for your support for something really important, and I hope you can help.
My friends and I are doing a 12 hour challenge, covering a total distance of 380km (distance from Newbury to Ludlow and then back home safely!) to raise money for MARS (Mercia Accident Rescue Service) who treated some close friends after a terrible accident in November 2008 - and who saved my friend Jo's life at the scene.
MARS is a rapid response charity, made up of a very experienced volunteer team of doctors, who are specifically trained in major trauma, they perform pre hospital emergency care and surgery for people who need immediate and often life-saving care at the scene of an accident.
The Story
On November 28th 2008, my 4 good friends - Jo, Clare, Fiona & Michelle went on their annual girls weekend away. That year their trip took them to to see the Christmas market. They arrived early afternoon and spent the next couple of hours looking around the town. Just after 5pm, as they were heading back to where they were staying they suddenly found themselves to be in the middle of their very own nightmare...
It all happened very quickly; a bus mounted the pavement and ploughed into them. Michelle suffered a dislocated knee, both Fiona & Clare were badly bruised and battered, but Jo had taken the full impact of the bus.... She sustained life-threatening chest, pelvic and back injuries, as well as breaking five ribs and damaging the ligaments in her right leg.
First on the scene were the amazing fire crew, who looked after them so well, and then Dr Malcolm Russell from MARS arrived, along with the paramedics. Malcolm undertook a procedure at the scene where he put a pelvic belt on Jo to try and manage her internal bleeding, basically her pelvis was fractured and had sprung open, like a book. By doing this at the scene it started to control the huge amount of internal bleeding. The girls evenutally arrived at around 10pm and Jo underwent emergency surgery through the night.
Everyone involved in all of their care has been absolutely amazing, the fire crew, the paramedics, the nurses and doctors at both Shrewsbury and Oxford, physio's, personal trainers, key workers and of course their family and friends, but without MARS and particularly Malcolm Russell, Jo wouldn't be here today.
So, this is why we're organising this challenge to try and raise as much money for this wonderful charity, enabling them to carry on with their work. One day someone you love might need their help, so please give what you can.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
So please dig deep and donate now.
