Hi, thanks for taking time to read this page, It won't take you long!
So why am I running the Brighton Marathon for The Surrey Air Ambulance?
As a family we had, I guess, been pretty lucky. We hadn’t lost anyone really close to us, we have all enjoyed good health, and although on reflection we could have done more together (which family couldn’t?). We have had a lot of fun times together and a lot of laughs along the way, like the time my Uncle Chris took us all to Paris for lunch on the Eiffel Tower to celebrate my Mum’s Birthday!
On August 29 2009 Bank Holiday Saturday, a beautiful, sunny, warm lunch time, all this changed. Chris was travelling to play cricket with friends, along the A24 in Surrey on his motorbike. He was no “born again biker”, he passed both his car and motorbike test at the age of seventeen.
There was an accident.
The Surrey Air Ambulance was on the scene within 9 minutes. Sadly after trying to save him for nearly an hour, my Uncle was declared dead at the scene. He leaves his wife Anne, Jamie (9), Chessie (11) and Charlotte (14) as well as his extended close family. As a family, nothing will ever be the same. It has made us all take stock and perhaps value our family and friends more.
The Surrey Air Ambulance is an independent charity funded entirely by charitable donations- it receives no government or lottery funding and requires £1.7 million to keep the service flying 365 days of the year. To find out more about this charity follow this link http://www.surreyairambulance.co.uk/
Although my Uncle didn’t survive his tragic accident we know that everything possible was done. Raising money for the Surrey Air Ambulance will save lives
Remember: you don’t have to live in a specific County to need the services of the Air Ambulance (Chris didn’t) just be travelling through it....
To date we have raised nearly £3000 from collections at Chris' funeral and memorial services. Any donations however big or small are hugely appreciated and will go towards saving lives.
If anyone fancies doubling their donation if I run the marathon in under three hours thirty minutes, let me know!
Many Thanks,
Samuel and "The Team" (Still recruiting - apply in writing ;)
