Group of Bedford residents set off for a 43-mile relay run to raise money for TVAA
The run was organised by the husband of a woman whose life was saved by the Thames Valley Air Ambulance service
A 43-mile relay run is taking place today to raise money for the Thames Valley Air Ambulance (TVAA) service and awareness for the vital role they play.
The run was organised by Toby Thorp, from Bedford, whose wife's life was saved by a team from TVAA.
Stephanie Thorp was driving home from university in Northamptonshire when a van veered out of its lane, causing a head-on collision.
The accident left her with life-threatening injuries, including serious leg injuries, arm injuries, a brain injury, and collapsed lungs.
Since the accident and after having done what paramedics called a 'remarkable' recovery, the couple wanted to give back to the charity who saved Stephanie's life by organising a fundraiser.
"...we're trying to cover a significant distance, 43 miles in fact, which is the distance that the helicopter had to fly on the day..."
Stephanie's husband Toby said: "We're both runners and I came up with the idea for something a little bit different, so we're doing a relay run."
"We're having lots of legs where different runners take part and do one section after another like a relay race and we're trying to cover a significant distance, 43 miles in fact, which is the distance that the helicopter had to fly on the day to get from RAF Benson to the village where it happened."
The run was organised with every detail thought through, from the distance of the run to its location, the total amount they were hoping to raise which represents the cost of a single trip out to save a life, and even a mini helicopter which is set to cross the finish line.
"...we're all going to do different length legs within our capabilities to get a helicopter, a little model helicopter, which we've painted up to look like the TVAA helicopter..."
While many adults will be taking part in the relay they've called This Helicopter Runs, little ones will help conclude the challenge with a two-mile run.
Amongst them will be their son who will be taking on a slightly longer challenge, cheered by his father running alongside him and his mum welcoming them both at the finish line.
Toby added: "We recruited a number of friends and local runners so we've got about 30 of us in total and we're all going to do different length legs within our capabilities to get a helicopter, a little model helicopter, which we've painted up to look like the TVAA helicopter, and we're going to run that helicopter for 43 miles."
The accident occurred near the border of Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire, highlighting the importance of the air ambulance service in rural areas.
The nearest hospital with the necessary resources was John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, a significant distance away, which would have been impossible to reach through other means given the extent of her injuries.
"...it feels like the very least we can do is to try and be part of that and to try and at least make them the money that it costs to go and do that for someone else..."
While the service responds to incidents across the three counties whenever they are needed, like in Stephanie's case, the couple wanted to raise awareness of the selfless work they do as a charity.
Toby said: "I think you hear about the air ambulance and you know they exist, but you don't appreciate them until they've been and done what they can do at the roadside and even in the the short term afterwards."
"It's only afterwards you start to realise if they had not been there my son wouldn't have a mum anymore and I wouldn't have a wife, so I sort of joked earlier that we owe them big time, but we really do."
"They are not funded by government, they're not funded by the NHS. The only reason they were able to be there that day was because of donations from various sources and it feels like the very least we can do is to try and be part of that and to try and at least make them the money that it costs to go and do that for someone else."
While the couple has reached the target set on their fundraising page and more, they are encouraging further donations to help support the charity further.
You can find details on their fundraiser on this web page.