​Govia Thameslink reunites biker with charity that saved his life

Motorcyclist Greg Gregory has been reunited with the East Anglian Air Ambulance fundraising team, a year and a half after the service saved his life following a motorbike accident.

Greg, 72, from Waterbeach, near Cambridge, joined rail operator Govia Thameslink Railway’s (GTR) Partnerships and Corporate Social Responsibility Manager Katherine Cox at the organisation's offices in Meldreth to present the Community Fundraising Manager at EAAA, Barbara McGee, with a cheque for £3,496.

GTR adopted the EAAA as its corporate charity for the north after it was nominated in its annual staff survey, with employees voting for the causes they wished to support, earning a £1 donation for each vote, kicking off with an initial donation of £1,023 in November last year.

Katherine said: “To be able to support a charity that makes such a big difference locally and is personal to some of our staff is a huge privilege.”

In April 2017 Greg was riding home on the M11 with his son, Tom, after a day at Brands Hatch when a car suddenly swerved in front of Greg, revealing a piece of timber that had fallen from a lorry, which he smashed into.

After waking up in the EAAA's air ambulance, Greg survived extensive injuries, including breaking his pelvis, seven ribs, sternum, right arm, little finger, two vertebrae and an ankle, all thanks to the treatment by the crew.

After numerous operations and extensive rehabilitation over the past 20 months, Greg is walking again. He said: “Without the response from the air ambulance, its crew of saviours and the NHS, I would have died. I spent a year in a wheelchair but thanks to our wonderful health service I am walking again and am able to have a normal life.

“I cannot fully express my gratitude to this wonderful organisation of life saviours; I owe them my life,” he added.

Greg’s friend, Sally Dyer of Chittering, a quality inspector for GTR, nominated the organisation after Greg's accident.

Since starting to support the organisation, GTR has raised more than £12,000 for the vital ambulance service.

EAAA fundraiser Barbara McGee said: “The East Anglian Air Ambulance is delighted to be supported once again by GTR and are extremely grateful for the donation from the staff surveys. It’s really important for charities such as ourselves to be working with organisations such as Govia Thameslink who are in the communities we look after. Thank you for your continued support. Together we save lives.”

Greg has raised more than £5,000 for the charity after completing a 400 yard walk on Christmas Day last year and he no longer requires a wheelchair.

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