Biker crash inspires Great Northern and Thameslink railway staff to adopt air ambulance charity

A motorcyclist from Waterbeach, near Cambridge, whose life was saved by the East Anglian Air Ambulance, has inspired Great Northern and Thameslink railway staff to adopt the cause for the year, making an initial donation of over £1,000.

Greg Gregory, 71, was returning home after a day out watching the motor racing at Brands Hatch with his son, Tom. Riding their motorcycles on the M11, a car suddenly swerved in front of Greg, revealing a piece of timber that had fallen from a lorry, which he smashed into.

Greg woke up in the air ambulance and survived, thanks to the prompt treatment he was given, despite breaking his pelvis, seven ribs, sternum, right arm, little finger, two vertebrae and an ankle. Seven operations and seven months later, Greg is still wheelchair-bound but getting better.

Greg said: “Without the air ambulance, its crew of saviours and the NHS, I would be dead. Thanks to them I am looking forward to a future when I will be able to walk and lead a normal life, again.”

Greg’s friend, Sally Dyer of Chittering, a quality inspector for Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) which runs Great Northern and Thameslink, led a campaign to select the East Anglian Air Ambulance as one of its two corporate charities.

Sally said: “I nominated the air ambulance because they saved Greg’s life. I am constantly in awe of the work they do. The crew is made up of specialist doctors and critical care paramedics and offer the best possible outcome for any of us should we be unlucky enough to be involved in a road traffic accident or a medical emergency.”

Drivers, station staff, engineers and office staff at GTR voted to select the charity by taking part in the company’s annual employee survey. Anyone who completed the survey could cast a vote for their favourite charity and GTR promised to pay £1 in return. East Anglian Air Ambulance won with a donation of £1,023; last year’s charity Keech Hospice received £518 and The Haven, a charity for the homeless in Stevenage, was given £401.

Air ambulance fundraising manager Barbara McGee, receiving the first donation from GTR at their office in Melbourn Science Park, near Meldreth station, said: “The East Anglian Air Ambulance are delighted to have been chosen by Govia Thameslink as their charity to support during 2018. It’s fantastic to work in partnership with companies in our community and we are very excited to explore ideas to benefit both parties.

“Without the support of the likes of Govia Thameslink we wouldn’t be able to provide the incredible, important service, seven days a week, state of the art helicopters and specially trained clinicians that save lives all over East Anglia. The charity needs to raise over £12 million next year and every penny towards this total can help. Together we save lives!”

GTR has now revealed the total sum raised for Keech Hospice Care in Luton last year - £14,184. The money was made through numerous events and collections, including station cake sales and a charities week.

Caron Hooper, corporate fundraiser for Keech, said: “This overwhelming donation helped fund our music therapy service for four months. Everyone at Keech Hospice Care would like to say a huge thank you to all the staff and passengers who supported us over this last year. You have all made the difference to our patients at the time it matters most.”

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