UN paramedics to cycle from Edinburgh to Northampton for charity

A Senior Lecturer at the University of Northampton and two student paramedics will be cycling from Edinburgh to Northampton later this month, to raise money for the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance service.

Adam Nash, Senior Lecturer in Paramedic Science and student paramedics Alex Quibell and James Windross will be undertaking the mammoth challenge in just 24 hours, cycling the 338 miles by road, non-stop.

Adam is an Air Ambulance Paramedic, working with the charity every day on the front line, flying in a helicopter to reach critically ill and injured patients quickly. Time can make the difference between life and death, and Adam has first-hand experience in witnessing this. Students Alex and James both have placements with East Midlands Ambulance Service, and have worked closely with the Air Ambulance on several occasions. The pair have already seen how the Air Ambulance service can save lives in minutes.

Alex commented:  “Working in the ambulance service, even for a short amount of time, I’ve seen lots of accidents.  It plays on my mind when I’m out on my bike, always making sure I play it safe with the right hi-vis gear. If you’re a keen cyclist, we’d ask you to support this cause and donate at our Just Giving page, as not all of us have been so lucky.”

The trio will drive to Edinburgh early morning on the 26 June, setting off around 6pm with the target of being back at 6pm the following day in Northampton, finishing at the University’s Park Campus.  The team will have three support cars, to ensure they have adequate hydration and energy throughout the cycle.  They will also carry spares for the inevitable punctures.  Although to complete the event they will have to average 15.4 mph for 24 hours, the team plan to average higher than this to give themselves 5 or 10 minute breaks every 80 miles or so.

The route is planned, the boys are in training and there is less than three weeks to go.  Visit the Just Giving page to donate or keep up to date with the latest developments by liking their Facebook page.

WNAA attend around 1000 missions a year – each costing around £1,700. They provide the best possible pre-hospital care and rapid transport to specialist hospitals, to those suffering serious injury and illness. WNAA receive no Government funding, relying solely on donations. For more information, visit the WNAA website.