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Cheshire locals take on Mount Toubkal Trek to support children’s charity
Two Cheshire locals will take on the Mount Toubkal Trek to raise vital funds to support the Children’s Air Ambulance (TCAA) as the charity celebrates 10 years of service.
Leanne Salisbury and Emma Tarpey, both from Cheshire, are raising funds to support their incredible trek in aid of the children’s charity with various bucket collections in their community, at garden centres, and placing collection tins in local stores – with plenty of future fundraising to come.
The Mount Toubkal Trek takes place between 10 – 15 September 2024 and will see the intrepid duo scramble over northern Africa’s tallest peak, Jebel Toubkal, standing at a majestic 4,167m tall. Finishing in the vibrant Moroccan city of Marrakech, the weather, terrain and around 17 hours of walking make this an extremely tough challenge – but all for a worthy cause.
The Children’s Air Ambulance charity is changing the face of paediatric and neonatal care through the high-speed transfer of critically ill babies and children – flying them from one hospital to another for specialist care via the clinically designed helicopters, which provide a flying intensive care unit for babies and children.
“As a hypnotherapist I often work with people who have experienced trauma in their life, and dealing with a critically ill child is absolutely one of them. The immense pain, worry, and helplessness parents experience when their child is in need of urgent medical care is one of the most challenging situations any person can go through and anything that can help them in such a distressing time is incredibly important.
“The Children’s Air Ambulance is one of the things that can help in that immediate instance, by ensuring they have access to a high-speed transfer from one hospital to another for specialist care, meaning the critically ill baby or child can receive the treatment they need as quickly as possible. They even have provision for one parent to fly with their child which must give immense comfort at a time that feels so fraught,” said Leanne Salisbury.
“By choosing to support the Children’s Air ambulance with a trek and other charity events this year we hope to raise awareness of this invaluable service, so that they can continue their lifesaving missions for every baby, child and family that needs it.
“The children’s charity receives no government or National Lottery funding and each mission costs around £3,500 so our first target is to raise £7,000, enough for 2 of those missions,” she added.
The charity works alongside 11 NHS Clinical Partner Teams across the UK, including the North West & North Wales Paediatric Transport Service (NWTS), and relies on fundraising challenges such as these to raise the £3,500 needed for each vital mission.
Emma Tarpey said: “We’d appreciate any help and support you can give to this amazing charity, by either donating to our JustGiving page or by coming along to any of our events throughout the year. The funds we raise will help to support the lives of critically ill babies and children and keep the helicopter flying.”
Kim Wright, Community Fundraising Executive for the charity added:
“We would like to thank Leanne and Emma for taking up this incredible challenge to raise funds to support our children’s charity.
“We receive no government or National Lottery funding and rely on the support of the local community and people just like Leanne and Emma to help support our lifesaving missions.
“Without this support our high-speed transfers wouldn’t be able to continue. Every penny they raise will help us to keep saving the lives of more critically ill babies and children.”
You can donate to support Leanne and Emma’s incredible Mount Toubkal Trek challenge, please visit their JustGiving page – https://www.justgiving.com/page/toubkal-2024?fbclid=IwAR0mAeZXPCcehvCO_JrNBnsurb10dkpoUhWbHC4f2_TP68l1zAPATcQFWUE
To keep up to date with their fundraising and events, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550827340241 or https://www.instagram.com/trek_toubkal_24/
The charity is celebrating its 10th anniversary of providing lifesaving high-speed transfers for critically ill babies and children in 2023 and is encouraging people to visit a charity store and grab a bargain, donate unwanted clothing to one of many clothing banks, get involved in a challenge event, fundraise, or even sign up to volunteer.
To learn more, or to support the charity, please visit: www.childrensairambulance.org.uk or call 0300 3045 999.