A GROUP of friends will run 100km between the two operational bases of the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS).
Clive James, Sean Boland and Nat Snell, all from the Eaglescliffe area, and Lyndon Peasley, from Birkenshaw, near Bradford, are preparing to run from Durham Tees Valley Airport to Langwathby, near Penrith, in aid of the airborne medics.
Mr James, who works at the charity’s Darlington headquarters, said the group would start their challenge at 5am on May 8 and hoped to finish by 8pm. The same journey would take just 15 minutes by helicopter.
Their route, covering tricky terrain, will pass through the town centre of Darlington and up to hill-top heights of Garrigill before ending in Langwathby, in time to see the aircrew finish their shift.
Mr James said: “When I suggested this challenge to the group, they were well up for it. As training has gone on, I think the scale of what we have in front of us has actually sunk in and we are all a little apprehensive now.
“I completed a 33-mile run last week and that didn’t go so well, so this run will be a little nervy to say the least, but I am excited and determined to complete it.”
All of the money raised will go to GNAAS, which is wholly dependent on public donations to survive and last year treated more than 800 patients.
Mr James said: “It is hard to find someone who hasn’t been touched by GNAAS, everyone knows someone who has been airlifted whether it is a relative, a friend or even friends of friends. They are fantastic and I am proud to be a part of it.”
Mandy Drake, head of fundraising at GNAAS, said: “It’s always great to see our own staff members going the extra mile for the charity. It just shows how much everyone believes in what we are doing.
“Clive and his friends have their work cut out here, but we will be supporting them along the way and would like to extend our sincere gratitude to them for their efforts.”
Please visit the group’s fundraising page to make a donation: www.justgiving.com/Legs-V-Rotors
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