FIVE amazing runners from across Essex & Herts are preparing to take up charity places in the London marathon next month to raise money for Essex & Herts Air Ambulance. The runners met the crew at the airbase this week to say thank you, share tips and hear advice from Emma Bord, who has completed all six major world marathons and whose husband was supported by the air ambulance after a sudden collapse.

The runners include Hannah Gradwell-Smith (29) from Luton, who is running in memory of her brother Billy who collapsed suddenly at home at Christmas nearly 10 years ago. The air ambulance team were able to transfer Billy to hospital but despite the best efforts of all the medical teams involved Billy sadly died.

Brothers Mike (18) and Liam Angland (24) from Wembley in London are also taking on the marathon. Mike was out with his friends in Moor Park nearly two years ago when he tripped and fell onto a live train track and went into cardiac arrest. His friend Dara immediately jumped down and dragged Mike off the tracks. Together his friends started CPR, saving Mike’s life.  When the critical care team arrived, Mike’s heart had restarted and he was stable enough for transfer to hospital and made a full recovery.

Hannah, Mike and Liam join Holly Wilkinson (32) from Chelmsford who is running to recognise the efforts of the Essex & Herts Air Ambulance to save her father’s life and Jeff Cross 53 from Cheshunt, who is running in memory of his wife raising funds so that “other families might be spared the heartbreak we now live with every day”.

As the five runners prepare for the 26.2 miles that lie ahead of them, they are calling on people across Essex and Hertfordshire to find their own ways to support the charity so it can continue to help others across the region in need of their help.

Alice Kershberg, who leads the Patient & Family Liaison Team at Essex & Herts Air Ambulance said:

“I’m so impressed by anyone who would run a marathon but it’s particularly special to see family members like Hannah and Jeff and former patients like Mike taking on this challenge after all they’ve been through. We’ll be there on the day to support them and be thinking of them every step of the way. As a charity we rely solely on donations to keep our helicopters flying so efforts like this make all the difference.”

Hannah said:

“I could have never have imagined that my family would have needed an air ambulance, but when we did, they were there. I will forever be grateful for the team and have chosen to run the marathon in my brother’s memory – I know he will be with me every step of the way!”

Mike Angland said:

“I was inspired to run the London Marathon to raise awareness for the charity that saved my life and to support the incredible work they continue to do every day. The Essex & Herts Air Ambulance provides a vital emergency service that can make the difference between life and death in critical situations, and I am personally living proof of the impact their work can have. By taking on this challenge, I hope not only to raise funds but also to highlight the importance of the charity’s lifesaving work so that they can continue to help others in need. Every donation and every conversation about the cause helps spread awareness of how essential their service is to the community”.

For more information on Essex & Herts Air Ambulance please visit ehaat.org