This Sunday (27 April) my nephew Simon (.https://www.justgiving.com/page/anoosheh-and-simon) and my colleague Steve (https://www.justgiving.com/page/stephen-moore-11?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL. ) are making two very different but each uniquely extraordinary marathon attempts – warmest wishes for their amazing runs, and for all my firefighter colleagues running on Sunday.

Everyone needs rescuing sometimes, whether from a fire by Steve and his colleagues, from an oppressive regime like those Simon’s cause highlights, or, like me last year, by one of the UK’s incredible ambulance services.

My much more modest challenge takes place two weeks after the Marathon. Inadvertently, friends and colleagues kindly donated enough last year to tip me into getting an automatic place in The Fred Whitton bike ride again… 112 miles of crazy hills in the Lakes, in aid of the Great North Air Ambulance Service. Any spare change do tip their way, with my and their most grateful thanks.

The volunteer GNAAS does an incredible job when over-optimistic, under-prepared and/or unlucky Lakes lovers get themselves stuck somewhere inaccessible in the mountains.

On another ride last year, a crew from a different ambulance service scooped me up when I passed out and came off my bike after 98 miles of cycling a hot Ride London. Waking up a couple of hours later in the Royal London hospital with no more than a few scratches and a broken shoulder, and a lot of great medical support around me, I became acutely aware of how much we owe those who rescue us when we need it.

Back to the Fred - last year I took the ‘Lion and the Lamb’ route, enhanced by a return trip over the 25% gradient Red Bank, and a tour around Thirlmere, completing some 85 miles.

This year, after some expert coaching from Hubb and colleagues at SunVelo (https://sunvelo.com/), and detailed instructions from Iona (‘eat and eat and eat until you feel sick’), I’m hoping to manage the longer route – though pushing the bike up the 30% steep Hard Knott and Wrynose passes will be inevitable.

Thank you for reading this far and for any support, moral or otherwise!

The Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) rescues hundreds of severely injured or ill patients every year throughout the North East, North Yorkshire and Cumbria. Their doctor-led critical care teams deliver life-saving treatments at the scene of the incident whether that is on a fell top, a roadside or in a city centre. The charity responded to 2,083 call outs in 2024 alone, via their helicopter and emergency response vehicles, where they performed treatments and procedures which can mean the difference between life or death.