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Cyclist who nearly died raises over £5K for local air ambulance

Richard Kershaw, who nearly died when he was knocked off his bike during a ride with his local ØVB Cycling Club, has presented a cheque for an incredible £5,169.68 to our Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance (DLRAA) – who he credits with saving his life.

The West Bridgford cyclist was one of four cyclists who were hit by an oncoming car when it drifted across the road on the outskirts of Eastwell in Leicestershire in March 2017.

Just 30 months later – after nine operations, spending 14 months recovering from multiple injuries and learning to walk again, Richard completed a sponsored 70-mile ride – to raise funds for DLRAA that attended him at the scene of the accident and then flew him to hospital in just eight minutes.

Richard completed this incredible challenge despite having to wear a specially designed brace on his right arm to hold the handlebars steady.

“The air ambulance sponsored bike ride was the first ride out since the accident. I had been training a lot but when I was on holiday in Majorca, I ended up going over the handlebars and breaking my collarbone, which made getting out on the road again even more challenging,” says Richard.

The route he completed with fellow members of the ØVB Cycling Club was from West Bridgford to Plungar and on to Melton Mowbray and back again – covering the same stretch of road where the original accident happened.

“It felt as though this was the first time I had ridden this route as I don’t remember much from the day of the accident. All I could think was that the air ambulance relies entirely on donations to remain operational so there was no way I was not going to finish the ride, I had to finish it as my way of thanking the air ambulance for saving my life,” says Richard.

Richard raised £5,169.68 which has not only paid for the cost of his own mission, but helped to potentially save another two lives.

Richard’s brother, Chris Kershaw, thankful for the critical care given to Richard by the air ambulance crew, is now taking on his own challenge to raise money for the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance.

Chris has set up a JustGiving page for his London Marathon 2020 mission https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/chris-runs-the-london-marathon for anyone who wishes to sponsor him and help him achieve his target of the cost of an air ambulance mission.

 

Chris adds: “As a charity, the DLRAA relies on donations and fundraising events like this. Prior to 2017, I didn’t know anyone who needed the help of an air ambulance. However, there is no doubt my brother would not be riding a bike or kissing his boys goodnight if it wasn’t for the DLRAA that day.

“I now realise after telling Richard’s story to people I meet, that the air ambulance has helped save many, many lives.”

To see your lifesaving local air ambulance and meet the crew, the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance are holding an Open Day on Sunday 28th June at Barnsdale Hall Hotel