I am running the 2018 Great North Run in aid of the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance. The Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance is a dedicated Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) that can reach any point in the two counties in less than 20 minutes and on average can transfer a patient to hospital within 8 minutes. Each mission costs approx £2,500, flying an average of 3 missions per day, 365 days of the year. Each year £2.5m is needed to keep the Air Ambulance flying and saving lives.

Working as a Cardiology ACP for United Lincolnshire Hospials Trust, I have seen first-hand the difference that HEMS frequently makes to patients who are transfered into the Lincolnshire Heart Centre. It gets sick patients to us more quickly, particularly when they are coming from the far south of the county, and this significantly improves their clinnical outcomes and survival rates. This is an extremely important and worthy cause that deserves the funding that is needed to maintain it, and I was pleased to be given the opportunity to support the charity.

Please consider what would happen if you found yourself in need of the air ambulance in the future, and the implications should it one day fail to meet it's funding needs, and give generously - if you are able.

Thank you all.