Charities join forces to raise money for seriously ill patients

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB) Charity is teaming up with the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity to raise money to support the critically injured and ill patients whose lives are saved by the two organisations.

In November, fundraisers and representatives from the two charities, alongside staff from QEHB and Midlands Air Ambulance Charity will be taking on an epic challenge that will push all of the participants to new limits.

The Saving Lives Challenge is a week-long fundraiser that will see participants cycle on static bikes, and run or walk on a treadmill, from 8am to 8pm every day, in the main atrium at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.

This incredible effort will begin at 08:00 on Monday 26 November, wrapping up at 16:00 on Friday 30 November, with the money made from the event going towards providing ‘added extras’ for critically ill or injured patients at QEHB, and helping to fund the incredible work of the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity.

One person who will be playing a leading role in helping the teams to complete the challenge is Natalie Queiroz, who has a deeply personal connection to both Midlands Air Ambulance Charity and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. Natalie was eight months pregnant back in March 2016 when she was attacked in Sutton Coldfield, being stabbed 24 times. Incredibly, despite the horrendous injuries that Natalie suffered, both her and her daughter’s lives were saved thanks to the advanced clinical care that was provided for her that day by the aircrew from Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, and the trauma team at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.

Speaking of the treatment that she received following the attack, Natalie said: “There is no doubt that my daughter and I would not be alive today without the amazing lifesavers who work for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. The rapid help that I received, combined with the expertise of Lieutenant Colonel Dr Ravi Chauhan, who was making rapid lifesaving decisions at the scene and on the helicopter and expertly handed over my care on arrival at QEHB to the highly-skilled trauma team, meant that both me and my daughter survived against the odds.

“I wanted to help to give something back, and I’m really looking forward to taking on the Saving Lives Challenge. I was fighting for mine and my daughter’s life at the scene of the attack, in the helicopter and at QEHB for seven hours before being transferred to the critical care unit. I will therefore walk seven hours non-stop on the treadmill every day helping to raise money and awareness for these vitally important causes.”

Lieutenant Colonel Dr Ravi Chauhan will also be doing his fair share of pedalling to help the team through their Saving Lives Challenge, he said: “It will be a privilege to cycle alongside some amazing people when we take on the Saving Lives Challenge. I witness the amazing difference that Midlands Air Ambulance Charity and all of the staff at QEHB make on a daily basis, saving the lives of people who otherwise wouldn’t make it.

“I’ll be incredibly proud to help complete the Saving Lives Challenge, and I would urge anyone who wants to find out more to come along to QEHB that week and help cheer us on, or event take part if they would like!”

Sophie Carroll, Fundraising Officer at QEHB Charity, said: “Everyone at QEHB Charity is really excited about the upcoming Saving Lives Challenge. It is fantastic to work alongside Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, and to celebrate the incredible, lifesaving work of the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity team and the staff here at QEHB. The money that we raise will help to provide ‘added extras’ for critically ill and injured patients here at the hospital.”

Annabelle Feetenby, West Midlands Fundraising Executive at Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, said: “We fly very sick patients into QEHB almost every day and have a strong partnership with the major trauma centre. This is set to be a fantastic event that will help to raise awareness of the lives that are saved by the air ambulance and at QEHB every single day. MAAC relies entirely on your donations to keep our helicopters in the air, this event will help to ensure that we can carry on providing this amazing service to the people of the Midlands.”

If you would like to find out more about this event, please click here, where you can learn more about how to get involved in the challenge.

You can also donate now to the challenge and help us raise all the money we can for Critical Care! Please click here to donate now.