The charity is fundraising for a new emergency children’s ambulance service, dedicated to providing the highest level of care for the regions sickest children. This service will benefit on average 1,700 patients a year.
To enter a team in Chariots of Fire and raise money for ACT please visit www.chariots-of-fire.co.uk or to find out more about this year’s official charity and the emergency children's ambulance, visit www.act4addenbrookes.org.uk.
Shelly Thake, ACT’s CEO said: “Adults and new-born babies in our region who need intensive care treatment for complex conditions are blue-lighted by a dedicated, specialist ambulance service to the most appropriate hospital. Surprisingly, there is no such service in our region that can specifically provide intensive care for critically ill children. To fund this service, we are relying on public donations and if every team participating in the 2019 Chariots of Fire race raised a minimum of £300, together we could get a new emergency children's ambulance on the road. Double this and we could fully support the project by funding two children’s ambulances. This would effectively provide an intensive care unit on wheels to keep children alive during transfers, ensuring that they survive long enough to get to Addenbrooke's.”
Chariots of Fire is one of the region's longest running fundraising events and is organised by Hewitsons Charitable Trust, the charity established and supported by solicitor firm Hewitsons LLP.
Race Director Charles Hewitson said: “ACT fundraises for Addenbrooke’s which is a lifeline for many children and their families. Remaining at the forefront of child care in Cambridgeshire the charity is readying itself to help as many of the county’s critically ill children as possible, something that the new ambulance service will be best served to assist with. I am delighted that Chariots of Fire will provide the stage for local organisations, colleges and supporters to join together and raise money for this deserving cause.”
This year’s race takes place on Sunday 22 September and starts, and ends, on Queens’ Green. Team registrations close on 18 September, or if all 380 teams have been registered before that date.
For more details about Chariots of Fire contact Emily Willdigg on 01223 217757 or email emily.willdigg@act4addenbrookes.org.uk