Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

My Name is Grace McGregor, I am Currently taking part in the final of Miss Earth England in July 2025 representing Lowestoft. I am Sponsored by Unique & Gifted a local, family ran business who make a wide range of handmade gifts for all ages across the UK.

I work full time as an Emergency Medical Technician for the East of England Ambulance Service. This has lead me to use my platform to raise awareness about the intersection of climate change, public health, and the environmental footprint of our healthcare systems. Climate change is not just a distant threat but it is already impacting our patients, staff, and the broader community.

The ambulance service, alongside the NHS, plays a vital role in responding to health crises, but we must also acknowledge the environmental impact of our operations. The carbon footprint from emergency services can exacerbate the very health challenges we are trying to address. As we continue to focus on being an environmentally sustainable organisation , it’s essential to recognise how these efforts affect not only the planet but the people we serve from our patients and their families to the staff on the frontlines.

The health risks posed by climate change are undeniable. Rising temperatures, pollution, and changing weather patterns are linked to an increase in respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular conditions, strokes, and even premature deaths. Vulnerable populations are particularly at risk, and the increased frequency of natural disasters, such as flooding and storms, further heightens the demand on emergency services and the NHS. Additionally, climate change can facilitate the spread of infectious diseases, which may also lead to preventable deaths.

As part of a healthcare service, it is crucial that we not only address these challenges in our clinical care but also take meaningful steps toward reducing our carbon footprint. It’s a collective responsibility and one that we must all share to ensure a healthier future for our patients, staff, and the planet.

Working alongside EEAST sustainability team we have to date planted in total 425 trees at 4 different stations including, Hellesdon, Chelmsford, Potter Heigham and Cromer including 19 different tree species.

As Part of my Miss Earth journey I am raising money for the charity “Trees for Cities”. Fundraising as much as possible leading up to July 2025 and volunteering in my local community. This charity is the only UK charity working at a national and international scale to improve lives by planting trees in cities. Established in 1993, November 2023 marked the 30th anniversary of the charity planting nearly 1.9 million trees in total. During their 30th year Between 2023-2024 “Trees for cities” have planted 115,166 trees, they worked across 65 schools within England, Scotland and wales helping 26,736 school children to be given greener playgrounds.

Upon donation if you would like a little crocheted tree please contact me so we can arrange delivery or collection of your tree 🌲