Lucy Air Ambulance is a small charity with a big impact, and they are fighting for survival. Relying only on money raised by fundraising, they are in great danger of ceasing to exist and children will be stranded in hospitals far from home. I am raising money to help them bring more children home or take them where they need to be to get better.

I have entered the London Landmarks Half Marathon at the end of May 2021 and training has begun. That gives me almost six months to raise as much sponsorship and donations as I can and ensure I am fit enough to complete the race. I will use my training to raise awareness for Lucy Air Ambulance and as a way to look after myself in a cold, dark winter of lockdown. Exercise helps me cope with the mental and physical strains of being a parent carer and now I want to use it to do some good for a charity who means a lot. Even if restrictions mean the event has to be cancelled or I am not allowed to travel, I will complete the race at home with a Dundee version. Doing this in London would be very special as it is where my journey with Lucy Air Ambulance began. (All money donated will go straight to Lucy via this page, I will be covering the cost of my place, travel and accommodation.) I will update you with my training and plenty of pictures of rainy and muddy runs. This is why... 

My son, Leo, was born in June 2017 while I was visiting London. He was born over 14 weeks prematurely and although we had hope, we had no guarantees he would make it. This was a very traumatic time for us a family, yet a joyful one because we loved Leo so very much and were happy to welcome him to the world. After three weeks, Leo was stable enough to be transported to a hospital closer to home in Dundee and where the rest of his family were awaiting him. The problem was that we had to travel almost 500 miles and this could not be achieved safely by road. So we were told we would fly. 

Patient air transport is primarily for emergencies, rather than planned travel. Our NHS ambulance service flights were cancelled twice (for good reason, but stressful nonetheless). Then we learned about a charity called Lucy Air Ambulance who would arrange for a private flight to Dundee, an incubator for Leo to travel, road ambulances either side and a trained neonatal consultant and nurse. At no cost to us. It was like a miracle. They planned everything so carefully and with our full understanding of what would happen and continued to look out for us long after the flight. 

The journey with Leo from UCLH to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee will stay with me forever. We have had a few blue light adventures since then, but nothing quite like that day. Putting a baby that was not even due for 11 weeks into a plastic box, in a tiny aeroplane while supporting all his fluids, breathing, feeding, drugs and monitoring and then flying him almost 500 miles is one of the bravest things I have ever seen anyone do. But the pilot, nurse and consultant did it that day and every time I think I am having a hard day at the office, I think of them and what they do. I have such admiration for their skills, but also that this whole operation comes together from a small charity and the generosity of the public. 

2020 has hit Lucy hard... (they say it best in the following paragraph).

As each moment passes the impact of COVID-19 deepens and its grip on our society tightens. Lucy Air Ambulance for Children has a role to play in the following weeks and months as pressure on the NHS rises and it becomes vital that charities like us are able to continue to provide our free service. As a small organisation with limited financial reserves we are particularly vulnerable. We are entirely reliant on voluntary fundraising and we are already seeing the financial impact of the virus with fundraising and events being cancelled. At the moment we are forecasting an 80% drop in our annual income and are facing the real possibility of having to cease operating. This will be devastating for the families who need our help and the NHS who needs our service.

I understand that this has been a hard year for everyone and many are struggling financially, as well as emotionally and sadly, most of us know someone that has been bereaved due to COVID. However, we are all doing things differently this year and with Christmas coming up we may be looking to change how we celebrate. Any donations made in lieu of Secret Santa, Christmas Cards, Christmas Jumper Day, carol singing, Christmas party nights or trips to the panto would be very appreciated by me, the other parents of children who have been helped by Lucy Air Ambulance and the charity themselves.