Thanks for dropping by and visiting my JustGiving page.  The support we've received for this event has been incredible and the donations are still coming in.... the messages really mean a lot to us and we've been sincerely touched by people's generosity xxx  thank you SO SO much

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 us after our 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.

My Story

On November 28th 2008, myself and my three best friends Jo, Fiona & Michelle went on our annual girls weekend away. This year our trip took us to Ludlow to see the Christmas market. We arrived early afternoon and spent the next couple of hours looking around the town. Just after 5pm, we were heading back to where we were staying when we suddenly found ourselves to be in the middle of our very own nightmare...

 

It all happened very quickly, and with a cry to "mind the bus" that initially had just seemed to be coming very close to the pavement, the next thing I knew was that the bus had mounted the pavement and had ploughed into us. Michelle suffered a dislocated knee, both Fiona & I 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 us 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. We evenutally arrived at Shrewsbury Hospital around 10pm and Jo underwent emergency surgery through the night.

Everyone involved in all of our 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 our family and our 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. 

 

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So please dig deep and donate now.