We're running the Manchester Marathon together on April 14th 2024 to fundraise for the HIOWAA.

James' Story

2024 will mark my 25th birthday, a milestone I would have never reached without the help of the Air Ambulance ten years ago. If it wasn't for their rapid response and expert care, I would have died on the roadside. I wake up two weeks later not able to move with broken bones, scars, and no memory of what’s happened. I thought that my time spent relearning to walk, talk and get out of hospital would be the end of it, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.

From that moment on, the last ten years have been a life-changing adventure for my family and I; for me learning to live with a brain injury, for my family, learning how to support their son and brother. There have been a fair share of challenges and tears, but also so many wonderful celebrations and successes.

Highlights include: graduating with a Bachelors and Masters from Birmingham, family holidays, meeting a wonderful partner, making new friends, starting my career at KPMG in Manchester, continuing to love playing in brass bands.

Throughout my recovery, I have always been driven to be the best I can be to 'prove' the doctors wrong. So of course, what better way to mark this year than with a marathon!

Sarah's Story

2024 will be the 10th Anniversary since my son James almost lost his life in a road traffic incident. He was 15 years old at the time and his three younger siblings were only 13, 10 and 3 years old. I received the phone call that's the worst nightmare of every mother. My son was fighting for his life in an induced coma with a severe head injury and multiple fractures, including his pelvis and femur.

The HIOWAA attended to him at the scene and flew him to the trauma unit at Southampton General Hospital where he could receive the critical care he desperately needed. I was told that James might never be able to walk, run, return to school or do any of the hobbies he once enjoyed - but LOOK AT HIM NOW! I'm so thankful to God and the Air Ambulance!​

When James asked me this year if we could do something significant together to mark the 10th Anniversary year and to fundraise to thank the Air Ambulance, how could I say no! I'm not sure if I would ever have a better reason to run a marathon.

Some of you know that we have done some running in the past, but nothing to this scale. Therefore, with all of your support we will use the courage and determination James has acquired. We will run with all our hearts to raise as much money as possible to fundraise for this amazing lifesaving charity to whom we are forever grateful!.