Wednesday 15th May 2013 – 5.10pm – Suzie Fothergill.
Nine members of West Midlands Ambulance Service staff will be gearing up for a 940 mile cycle challenge in a bid to raise £8,000 to help 6-year-old Fin.
The team which is made up of paramedics and technicians predominately based at Lichfield Ambulance Station will be cycling a massive 90-115 miles each day, for 11 days, to try and raise vital funds in order to buy a special physio vest for friend and colleague Steve Roberts’ son, Fin, who has cystic fibrosis.
Steve Roberts, WMAS Clinical Team Mentor said: “We’re over the moon with the support that we have received to try and raise the funds to enable us to get a physio vest for Fin, who has recently been quite unwell with his cystic fibrosis.
“As well as the support from the cycle team, we have had received a great deal of help from the Little Treasures Children’s Trust who have helped us to provide a fantastic standard of treatment for Fin. Little Treasures have also offered to obtain the physio vest* for Fin, which will help to remove the mucus off his lungs.
“£8,000 is a massive sum of money to raise but we are hopeful that we can do it. If we manage to exceed our target, any additional funds will be donated to Little Treasures who do a fantastic job!”
The team will begin their cycle challenge in John O’Groats on the 9th September and hope to cross the finish line 11 days later in Lands End.
Technician, Katie Maughan, who will be driving the support vehicle during the challenge, has been working closely with Steve to organise the event. Katie said: “We’d like to express our thanks to everyone who has supported us so far.
“Special thanks go to WMAS who have helped assist the team to take part in the challenge. A big thanks to Tempest Ford Lichfield, Energy Excel and Charles Design and Marketing who have all generously helped us with sponsorship, which will enable us to carry out the ride.
“I’d also like to say thank you to G4S, Moor Hall Hotel, Burton Albion FC, Fairlawns Hotel, Drayton Manor Theme Park, Landrover and Rock 34 who are supporting us by providing cycle shirts and raffle prizes for additional forthcoming events.
“Alongside this challenge many members of the team are participating in a number of other cycle events to help boast these vital funds.
“A fundraising entertainment evening has also been organised to take place in August. Members of the public are welcome to join some of the team at the special event at Moor Hall Hotel on 31st August, where there will be live bands, dancing, a hog roast and raffle prizes.”
Sponsor, Brian Carruthers, Managing Director at Tempest Ford in Lichfield said: “On behalf of all my colleagues at Tempest Ford, I would like to wish the team success in their amazing challenge of cycling from John O’Groats to Lands End. Katie Maughan has done a great job of persuading everyone to support this appeal to raise funding for Fin. Tempest Ford are delighted to have the opportunity to be supporting the WMAS team.”
Tickets for the event at Moor Hall Hotel cost £20 per person. For more information or to purchase a ticket please contact Katie via kmtherapy@hotmail.co.uk
Anyone wishing to support the team on their journey can do so by visiting https://www.justgiving.com/joglefin/
Ends
Notes to editors
*The vest is made out of soft, flexible material and is connected to a small air compressor machine. The machine delivers burst of air into the vest rapidly inflating and deflating, which created gentle pressure and vibration on the chest helping to break up mucus and bring it up the upper air ways where it can be removed.
Pictured: Left to Right in Line: Katie Maughan (technician), Callum Grove (technician), Mark Beardshaw (technician), Keith Ennis (Clinical Team Mentor/Paramedic), Stuart Golby (Paramedic), Dave Mycock (Paramedic), Ben Popple (Paramedic), Stephen Roberts (Clinical Team Mentor/Paramedic) and Brian Carruthers- Managing Director Tempest Ford Lichfield. Paramedic Conan Hoult will also be joining the team on the cycle ride but is not pictured.
I’m so proud of my Dad (Keith Ennis) for doing this. When he gets back, I’m buying him a pint.