Two Drimpton residents, Paul Clements (Cleaner Chimneys) and
Stuart Pearce, are and members of
Drimpton Cycling Club and are taking the Challenge below and cycling the
55.2 miles route to raise funds for
Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance.
Motivation is provided by Stuart’s desire payback for his trip in the helicopter following a cardiac arrest 5 yrs ago. It costs on average £3,500 for each helicopter deployment, so they are seeking to reach that figure as a target, both to repay Stuart’s debt and to cover the cost of a trip for somebody else.
Please click HERE to visit their fundraising page to donate. The 55 mile route from Watchett to West Bay passes through Drimpton and Broadwindsor as it does annually, so a rest stop at the Royal Oak for local support will be in evidence!
Stuart’s story:
‘I had been water skiing on the Saturday & we were going back out again on Sunday. Chugged 3 miles round the coast to get to a more calm bay. I got up & promptly keeled over …. Thankfully my best man’s wife saved me going overboard but now had a 13.5 stone dead weight lying on top of her 🥴 Luckily my best man has a 150hp outboard on his rib so floored it back to Salcombe. The lifeboat had been launched but Justin was greeted by the harbour master on his launch for speeding. Once he realised the emergency he escorted Justin to the jetty. Peak holiday season – August 5th. Thankfully 2 families walking by included 2 nurses. They started cpr. 6 doctors were also attracted by the commotion- one got a defib. 2 ambulances turned up from nowhere so they took over & eventually got me to the rugby club where the air ambulance was waiting to take me down to Plymouth. I was in an induced coma for 4 days, ITC for another 8 days & finally released after 22 days with pacemaker & defibrillator fitted. Every day is a bonus, the grass is greener, the sky bluer. Best thing every day is the dog walk. Thoroughly enjoy all the smallest details in life’.
Stuart may not be here today but for the combined efforts of so many bystanders, but critically the speedy trip to hospital via the air ambulance.
From Samantha Smith, DSAA Fundraising Officer…
On Saturday 18 May 2024 we shall be holding our thirteenth annual Coast to Coast Cycle Challenge, starting at 10.30 am in Watchet and ending in West Bay.
Last year’s event saw 318 supporters take part to help raise funds to keep Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance flying. In doing so they collaboratively rode just over 17,000 miles and raised approx £49,000 – that’s enough to fund approximately 14 missions by the air ambulance.
We are aware that this event may cause you and your neighbours some slight disruption and would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused.
If you would be willing to help marshal this event in your neighbourhood and help us keep everyone safe, we would love to hear from you.
With best wishes and many thanks for your support.
Samantha Smith
Fundraising Officer
Tel: 01823 669604
We wish both Paul and Stuart a safe and enjoyable day on Saturday, 18th May 🙂
Please click HERE to
visit their fundraising page to donate.
There are also donation boxes in The Wobbly Cottage and The White Lion.
THANK YOU!
#Broadwindsor #Burstock #Blackdown #Drimpton #Hursey #Kittwhistle #Seaborough #WestDorset #Dorset #Village #AirAmbulance #Somerset #BeKind #BeSafe #StaySafe #CycleChallenge #CoastToCoastCycleChallenge