On the 30th April this year my world came crashing down around me when my darling husband, my best friend and soulmate sadly suffered a cardiac arrest whilst out running with his 'Angels' and friends. The paramedics were with him within minutes and the Thames Valley Air Ambulance were not far behind.  The crew from TVAA were amazing, they tried everything they could for him and showed great care and compassion towards both Pete and myself, keeping me informed of what they were doing and how they were trying to help him. But despite all their best efforts unfortunately there was nothing that they could do for Pete and he passed away with me holding his hand telling him how much I loved him, the day before his 55th birthday.

I always said I would never run a marathon for charity, as the thought of the fundraising has always scared me but I feel honoured and privileged to being running London Marathon in 2024, a race that Pete would have loved to have been able to run, in Pete's memory whilst raising valuable funds for the TVAA.  It takes the staggering amount of £3900 to deploy the helicopter and if I can raise anywhere near that amount so that one other family can be helped I will feel that I have given something back for the support that they have given me.

Training for London has already started as in November this year I will also be running New York Marathon, a race that I should have been running with Pete by my side, as he also had a place but now I will be running with him in my heart so he'll still be with me every step of the way.

Thames Valley Air Ambulance exists to give everybody within our community the best chance of surviving and recovering from an emergency. We are here for you and your loved ones. In Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire. Whoever you are, wherever and whenever you need us. Together, we do everything in our power to protect, save and revive lives, with the best critical care at the scene and beyond. We are not government or lottery funded, so we rely on the generosity of our community – and people like you – to fund us.