Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

As many of you know on Monday the 15^th June, I was
involved in a horse riding accident which left me laying in Blue Bell Hill Woods with broken ribs, fractured vertebrae and dislocated and fractured hip.  Luckily I was with my friend Tina who, with more than a passing resemblance to a gazelle, called for an ambulance before setting out at pace to round up the loose horse whilst also making sure everybody knew where I was laying and how serious it was – a feat that saw her clocking up 2 miles, and 34 flights of stairs according to her fitbit. 

But this just giving page is not about me and my injuries, it’s for the unsung heroes, South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Trust (SECAmb); the two paramedics who stabilised me and the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART).  As the paramedics comforted me, I just couldn’t help wonder how on earth they were going to get me out of the dense woodland and up (or down!) an incredibly steep hill.  After what seemed forever but was actually only 20 or 30 minutes, through what I at first thought was a serious pain relieving drug fuelled hallucination, I saw what I quickly realised were my rescuers.  Picture a mix of diet coke ad, Indiana Jones and Brad Pitt....yep, and after quickly assessing the situation their first action was to cut my clothes off....... and I completely forgive them for destroying my brand new expensive jodhpurs.  Note to all you girls out there, your mum was right about making sure you always have clean underwear on.

Using their specialist rescue equipment and incredible skills I was gently transferred to a rescue cradle and with unrivalled care and heart touching compassion they painstakingly began the assent up the ridiculously steep slippery paths from the woods.  Without missing a beat, as sure footed as the nimblest mountain goat and with the same reassuring care they miraculously managed to carry me off the side of the hill to waiting ambulance.

My care and recovery from the woods took three hours and I cannot thank them enough.  To show my gratitude to SECAmb I am trying to fund raise one pound for every minute they spent helping me so my target is £180.00. I know times are hard for many and there is unprecedented demand from so many extremely worthwhile charities all trying to raise funds but the HART team is an invaluable service offered by SECAmb , especially to those of us who choose to spend our leisure and hobby time outdoors participating in sports and activities that on occasion place us at great risk.  We always think of the Air Ambulance and of course they too provide a vital service however, I have never heard of this team before.  On this occasion an Air Ambulance would not have been able to land or reach me.  This was my first (and hopefully only!) encounter and I cannot praise them enough, they are wonderful. 

I have had so many messages and am so lucky to have so much
support and love – thank you.  I am working hard to get home by next week so that I can make Andy and Lauren my personal slaves while they still feel sympathy for me!  It will be a long road to recovery and whilst I take the time to get well, I’d really love to raise money for SECAmb so that this service can continue to help other people like me; lonely and scared, in an impossible place, wondering how I was ever going to get to an ambulance and the vital medical attention I needed. 

So, to all my friends, all those of you have so kindly sent me the warmest get well wishes, I’d ask if you can make a small donation to this valuable and precious service. Please donate as little or as much as you can to help me to thank them – if each of you donated the price of a bunch of grapes we’ll smash the target (and I’m not a fan of grapes anyway!)