A Marathon challenge awaits!

Luke McCartney from Thetford in Norfolk used to take part in Parkruns and took part in the Norwich 10k in 2017. He enjoys listening to podcasts as he runs, and it helps him to wind down after a day at work.

“I applied for the London Marathon ballot and was unsuccessful and then applied for a golden ticket place to run in aid of EAAA thinking ‘even better I can run and raise money for a great cause too,” Luke explains. “I was unsuccessful but then later got a phone call from EAAA offering me a place. I was elated and over the moon.”

Luke adds that he saw EAAA first hand when the crew attended his next-door neighbour in the back garden of his property in 2019.

“Unfortunately, it wasn’t the outcome we wanted, but I remember how professional and calm the EAAA crew were, how well they worked as a team that day, how empathetic they were to the patient, and those at the scene, including myself, to which I will be forever grateful. Following this they also attended to a colleague at my workplace who fell unwell suddenly, and helped save his life.”

Luke says that his training has been challenging both physically and mentally, but he has remained focused and driven to do and be the best he can be.

“I can remember my first day of training. As I put on my trainers and left the house, the EAAA helicopter flew over. Whilst my thoughts went straight to hoping and praying, if they were attending an incident or had a patient on board, that this person would be okay, it was quite a surreal and poignant moment.”

On marathon day itself, Luke says he will be 98% excited and 2% nervous (or maybe 2% excited and 98% nervous!) but he will enjoy it, soak up the atmosphere “and finish it to thank all those who have supported me and sponsored me.”

Luke has been overwhelmed and grateful to the people who have generously donated to his fundraising, which means he is already close to his £2,500 target. In February, he visited EAAA at Helimed House, the charity’s Norwich base, and saw first-hand how vital fundraising is and the life-saving impact it has.

“I always say ‘go big or go home!’, Luke says, “so I think, once I hit £2,500, I’ll keep going and try raising as much as I can – as I know it will make a difference, which could also be difference to saving someone’s life. No one ever knows when they might need EAAA, hopefully they never will – but if needed everyone deserves for their life to be saved.

Charlotte King, from Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk, has a very poignant reason for taking part. Her friend, Annie, encouraged her to start running in 2010. Annie and Charlotte met in 2005 when they were both pregnant with their first babies. They both knew they were having girls and were due three weeks apart.

“We leaned on each other for support and together our children grew up being best friends and still are, although our daughters are now young adults! Annie and I often referred to them as more like sisters than just friends!” Charlotte explains.

Annie was returning home from a camping trip with her children and mum in 2023 when she was involved in a head-on collision, sustaining multiple injuries. She was attended at the scene by EAAA and taken promptly to Addenbrooke’s Hospital.

“Being the small but mighty fighter that she was, she held on and fought before she sadly passed away on 29th September 2023, aged just 35,” Charlotte says.

“Annie was a special friend. She was the one who encouraged me to start running in the first place, and it was thanks to her that my love for running began. If it wasn’t for her, I probably wouldn’t be a runner now.”

On marathon day, Charlotte is most looking forward to putting into practise all her training making it round without injuries. She has been using the ‘Runna’ app and their training plan to help her prepare for the event.

“I’m really looking forward to running over Tower Bridge, and down The Mall to cross the finish line, having raised a substantial amount of money for an incredible charity all in memory of Annie,” Charlotte says.

“By raising money for EAAA and running in Annie’s memory, I’m making sure she isn’t ever forgotten, as well as raising money to help others who require life-saving treatment in a timely manner. I’m not sure I’ll be able to run the marathon without sobbing, and I know that when I cross the finish line it will be a mix of emotions; success, sadness – and hoping Annie will be with me on the day and be proud of my achievement.”

Good luck to Luke, Charlotte and all the runners taking on the London Marathon in aid of EAAA. You are incredible and we will be cheering you on every step of the 26.2 miles.  Thank you for helping to save lives in our region.