An Extra Mile for a Very Good Friend

As a small group of 6 friends and colleagues we decided that we wanted to spend 2021 challenging ourselves to fundraise in aid of Wiltshire Air Ambulance.  Our plan was to walk and run 10,072 miles which is the length of the UK's national rail network and to raise £1,072. You are probably thinking why on earth the length of the national rail network and why on earth would you want to do that!

We all work for Network Rail and have done for many years so completing the length of the national rail network just seemed like the obvious challenge for us all.  2020 has been a hard year for us all as a nation, we haven't been able to spend the time we would like  with our friends and family and it feels as though we have just spent 2020 waiting, waiting in hope for a vaccine, and waiting to be able to spend precious time with all our loved ones again. So we decided to take 2021 by the balls and do something positive for our mental health and for a very worth while charity - Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

This seemed like quite a daunting challenge but a challenge we were determined to complete, we all started off strong and then our world was ripped apart when devastatingly one of our group Allan very sadly and unexpectedly died on the 13th January at the age of 56 years old.

Allan's passing has hit us all very very hard and has left a massive hole in all our hearts, Allan was not just a colleague but a very good friend, husband, father, son and brother. Allan was never one to give up, he would always dig deep and get the job done with the reward of a cup of tea at the end, being all he needed. When I doubted if as a group we would be able to achieve our goal Allan said to me that he didn't think I'd be the first to bail and lets give it 6 months and see where we are at! 

So in true Allan style we are committed to continue with our challenge and to fundraise for Wiltshire Air Ambulance (WAA), Allan chose WAA as the groups chosen charity as it has always been close to his heart following the help it has given to a few of his close friends. Over the years Allan has completed challenges and fundraised for WAA in thanks of the life saving service they provide so being able to continue fundraising in his memory means so much.

Allan without fail always completed his 10,000 steps a day so wasn't fazed at the idea of working as a team to complete the challenge, before his passing Allan had already contributed just over 20 miles to the challenge and Allans wife Emma who is part of our group has said how much Allan would want us complete this challenge.

We will continue with our challenge in memory of our very good friend Allan with the end date being the first anniversary of Allans death - 13th January 2022.

Please please support us to raise our goal of £1,072 for this amazing much needed charity and in memory of an amazing man.

Jamie, Emma, Aidy, Rich and Hayley 



(Note - we are expecting to need to add cycling into the challenge and are thankful for the offers of help from friends and colleagues in helping us to achieve the many miles needed.)


We are raising money in aid of Wiltshire Air Ambulance Charitable Trust and every donation will help. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to us all.

More information about Wiltshire Air Ambulance Charitable Trust: THE CHARITY'S OBJECTS ARE THE RELIEF OF SICKNESS AND INJURY AND PROTECTION OF HUMAN LIFE BY RAISING SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO FINANCE THE PROVISION AND SUPPORT OF AN AIR AMBULANCE FOR THE COUNTY OF WILTSHIRE AND ADJACENT COUNTIES.