CHARITY

Great Western Air Ambulance

Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) were delighted to remain a beneficiary for Mud Master this year, having enjoyed many years of loyal support from the Weston Lions. GWAAC’s critical care crew attended Lions member, Dick, back in 2013 and our GWAAC runners last Sunday were delighted to see Dick manning a refreshment stand half way around the obstacle course, cheering everyone on! Team GWAAC, 14 strong, entered the 5km race and stuck together nearly all the way round, giving leg ups to get everyone over the tallest obstacles and cheering each other on when nerves set in atop the highest points of the course.

Great Western Air Ambulance Charity were called out 1808 times in 2022. That’s 35 times every week to someone in need of emergency pre-hospital medical care. Our crew were called to 69 motorcycle incidents, 20 equestrian incidents and 47 bicycle incidents last year. Receiving no day-to-day government funding, GWAAC rely on the support of the community to keep them flying and saving lives. In 2022 they also taught first responder care in Ukraine, opened two new charity shops, taught 5,580 students CPR, launched their Public Access Defibrillator programme and developed their crew, welcoming a new Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine Trainee, welcoming back two Critical Care Doctors and celebrating our trainees, Callum and Fleur, completing their qualifications to become Specialist Paramedics in Critical Care. None of this would be possible without essential funds raised by community events such as Mud Master.

GWAAC attended medical emergencies 49 times in Weston-super-Mare in 2022 and have already been tasked to 32 missions there this year. With your support GWAAC can continue to be there for anyone in our shared community, whenever and wherever they need us, with the best kit and the best equipped crew. We are so grateful for everything you help us to achieve. Thank you!

Philippa Walker, Supporter Engagement Coordinator said ‘Another fantastic year at Mud Master for the ever brilliant Lions of Weston and all those involved at Puxton Park. We were delighted not only to remain beneficiaries of the event but also to put a charity team together this year and feel what it is like to run the mud race! There was a wonderful atmosphere all around and so lovely to see participants supporting their own teams and everyone else taking part. We are so grateful to all those involved, helping raise crucial funds for GWAAC. Long live Mud Master!