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Fundraising challenge marks local air ambulance 40,000th mission

A personal trainer from Baddesley Ensor near Atherstone is taking part in the local air ambulance charity’s #40for40 Challenge to raise funds and mark the milestone of completing their incredible 40,000th mission.

Ben Willis has been passionate about fundraising for the local air ambulance ever since 2017 when four of his friends were involved in a road traffic collision minutes away from his house after returning from a weekend climbing Mount Snowdon.

Unfortunately, he lost three very close friends that day, but he is forever grateful to the charity for the work they do which ensured one of his friends survived and is fit and healthy today.

This is why Ben is super motivated to raise money for the local air ambulance to keep the helicopters and critical care cars operational 24/7, 365 days of the year.

He is urging local people to get involved in the #40for40 Challenge to be sponsored to achieve a target involving the numbers 4, 40 or 40,000.

“The possibilities are endless and this challenge could be done in 1 day, 1 week, every day for 40 days – just as long as you take part and get started between 24th June and 8th July,” says the charity’s Challenge Events Administrator, Laura Eaton.

Ben (21) will be doing 40 press-ups for 40 days with 40 per cent of his bodyweight – an extra 30kg – strapped to his chest.

“Even though I keep myself and others fit for a living, sticking to the challenge every day will be tough! But I’ll be taking the kit away with me on holidays over the 40 days so expect to see me doing press-ups in different places,” he says.

Ben has set up a JustGiving page; https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/betterwithben40for40 and will live stream every one of his 40 press up sessions on his Facebook page Better With Ben Fitness.

“Everybody can get involved in the #40for40 Challenge to raise funds for the local air ambulance. It doesn’t matter what you do, it’s simply about doing something – because any amount of money raised literally has the power to save lives and that will be what motivates me over these 40 days,” he says.

If you have been inspired by Ben and would like to join the challenge to help raise funds for your lifesaving local air ambulance, click here