I am aiming to raise £5000 for my local Air Ambulance charity whilst taking part in Race Across America (RAAM) this summer. The event is considered to be the longest solo endurance cycling event in the world. I will be one of just six women taking part and if successful will become the first British woman to officially complete the gruelling challenge in the race’s 30+ year history.

 

The non-stop challenge, known as the "World’s Toughest Bicycle Race" starts on the 10th June 2014 in California (Oceanside) and finishes in Maryland (Annapolis) and involves participants pedaling 3000 miles across 12 states and climbing 170,000 ft!  Solo female racers have a maximum of 12 days and 21 hours to complete the race, so I will be riding between 250 – 350 miles each day, exposed to the extreme climate of the Mojave Desert, the altitude of the Rockies and Appalachian Mountains and the potential threat of tornadoes across the central plains. 

 

This event is the culmination of years of preparation in cycling and triathlon events so please give generously for this worthwhile cause as it will spur me on during the race! Since I qualified to take part in Race Across America in June 2012 - by placing 1st woman in a 24 hour time trial - I have cycled from London to Paris in 25 hours, from London to Edinburgh and back in just over 4 days, become the GB Ladies National Ultra Triathlon Champion (at double Ironman distance), almost cycled all the way around Ireland (but covered the 2nd furthest distance by a woman) and won a 400 mile race in India (not just 1st female, but 1st overall).  

 

Unlike NHS emergency services, Herts Air Ambulance, part of the Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust is a Charity providing a free life-saving Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) for the critically ill and injured of Essex, Hertfordshire and surrounding areas. Specialist Doctors and Critical Care Paramedics can be rushed to the scene of an incident with life-saving support equipment to deliver advanced clinical care that is normally only found in the Hospital Emergency Department. Once stabilised, the patient will be conveyed by air or land to the most appropriate hospital for their needs. With no direct funding from the Government or National Lottery they rely solely upon the generosity and goodwill of the people and businesses of Essex and Hertfordshire to raise the £440,000 needed every month to keep both helicopters flying and saving lives.