• Swindon & Wiltshire Community champions
• Thursday February 8 2024
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Chippenham professionals aim to raise £4,500 for Wiltshire Air Ambulance on 300km bike ride

A Chippenham couple are aiming to raise £4,500 for Wiltshire Air Ambulance with a three-day, 300km bike ride around Wiltshire.

Commercial photographer Nick Cole and his wife Gaynor, who is business manager for Spa Medical Centre in Melksham, will follow a route whose distance is equivalent to cycling from London to Leeds, and they will tackle hills equivalent to scaling Snowdon twice.

The charity challenge will begin on Friday, June 28 starting from the Wiltshire Air Ambulance airbase in Semington, then heading north towards Malmesbury, around Swindon with a detour to Swindon’s Great Western Hospital, out towards Marlborough with some challenging climbs and then a stay near the Savernake Forest on the first night.

Day two covers the eastern part of the county, heading through Tidworth and eventually down to Salisbury with a call in to Salisbury District Hospital.

The last day sees more climbs around the south-west of the county with some challenging terrain towards Trowbridge and the finish back at the airbase.

“Our first aim is to raise £4,500 as this is the cost of a mission for Wiltshire Air Ambulance, the cost to get the helicopter in the air along with the medical team. Wiltshire is a large rural county and the air ambulance really does make the difference, in many cases it is the difference between life and death” said Nick.

Gaynor added: “For over 30 years, Wiltshire Air Ambulance has provided an invaluable service for those in need of urgent medical care.

“Working in the health service, I know personally how important and lifesaving Wiltshire Air Ambulance is. I am taking on the challenge to show my support and raise important funds for the charity.”

Naomi Barker, the charity’s corporate partnerships lead, said: “Wiltshire Air Ambulance is thrilled that Nick and Gaynor are undertaking this unique challenge to raise awareness and much needed funds for us to continue providing vital response for those living in Wiltshire, Bath and surrounding areas.

“Nick has recently become more involved with the charity, including documenting our Charity Ball, and we’re so thankful for his efforts.”
Each year it costs £4.5 million to run the charity and provide support across Wiltshire, Bath and surrounding areas.

Wiltshire Air Ambulance flies over a thousand missions annually, responding to 351 cardiac emergencies and 174 road traffic collisions in 2023.

Wiltshire Air Ambulance operates up to 19 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Donations for Nick and Gaynor’s charity challenge can be pledged at https://nickcolephotography.co.uk/charity-challenge-2024/

Latest: Chippenham professionals raise £4,500 for Wiltshire Air Ambulance on 300km bike ride