Couple to run 800 miles for Air Ambulance

A FROME couple have pledged to run 800 miles in six months to raise money for The Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance.

Rowena Mayo-Candy and her husband Robin Mayo have embarked on a challenge to run 800 miles in six months. 

They started back in April and have already surpassed 600 miles, hoping to increase the target and reach 1,000 miles. 

In 2015, Rowena’s step-father was involved in an accident. A piece of farming machinery knocked him off of his feet causing him to land on his back; as he fell he hit his head on gravel. 

He came to relatively quickly, but the paramedic insisted on calling the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance due to the nature of his injury. It turned out that the call, his swift treatment and transfer to Southmead Hospital saved his life. 

His fall had caused a fracture to his skull and consequently a serious injury to his brain. The weeks and months that followed were filled with uncertainty as they waited to see if he would survive and how he would recover. An opportunity the family would not have had if it weren’t for a service like the air ambulance. 

After months of recovery, surgery and rehab, he returned home. 

Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance receive no direct funding from the Government or the National Lottery and rely on the generosity of the public for support. Their operational costs are over £3.5million a year and the approximate cost per mission is £3,000.

Rowena said, “In April, Robin and I started running with the aim to cover 800 miles in six months, in the hope that we will raise £1 for every mile and donate it to Dorset & Some Air Ambulance. 

“The miles are covered whenever we can fit them in, between work, school runs and family. We reached our midway point at the end of June at well over 400 miles and are now four months in with nearly 700 miles under our belts. If we continue at this rate, we could actually reach 1,000 miles!

“The challenge officially ends at the end of September, but the following week, on October 6th, we will be running our first ever marathon in Bournemouth, adding another 52 miles to our total.

“We do both run, and have a good few half marathons under our belts, but the amount of distance we have been covering is more than we’ve done before. October will be our first full marathon. 

“We are really motivated to do what we’ve set out to do as the cause is close to our hearts, and quite honestly we have good days and bad days! 

“As the miles are adding up we’re feeling more and more excited about it and the possibility of hugely exceeding our target. We’ve both agreed that one of the hardest parts of the challenge is the logistics of fitting in the miles between having three kids, three jobs between us, plus the usual adult commitments!

“We have two events coming up to help raise awareness of what we’re doing. The first is a cake sale in the Mary Bailey Field at Victoria Park on Sunday August 25th (1pm-4pm), where people can decorate their own cakes, decorate super hero masks and, of course, buy cakes!

“The second is in the same place on Saturday 28th September. We are inviting people to join us to either run or support us in our final three miles of the challenge. At this event, we will have a face painter, the amazing Somerset Gelato, and a guest from the air ambulance team.”

To keep up to date with their efforts, search ‘800 in Six’ on Facebook. To donate to the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance via Rowena and Robin visit: www.dsairambulance. org.uk/fundraisers/800-miles-in-6-months.