Need to know
For #TeamEEAST Last updated: 18 May 2024 at 11:00
The Outrun An Ambulance initiative, which raises funds for ambulance charities including the EEAST Charity, won their category at the NHS Communicate awards .
The campaign was shortlisted for two NHS Communicate Awards for Best Charity Campaign and the Partnership Working Category, winning the Working in Partnership Award at the virtual ceremony on Monday 11th October.
‘Outrun an Ambulance’ is a virtual challenge inviting people to conquer the mileage an ambulance covers on an average shift while responding to people in urgent need.
The East of England Ambulance Charity is one of six regional NHS ambulance charities that are involved in the ‘Outrun an Ambulance’ challenge. The others are the South Western Ambulance Charity, London Ambulance Charity, North West Ambulance Charity, South Central Ambulance Charity and Yorkshire Ambulance Charity.
Funds raised for East of England Ambulance Service Charity help to provide enhanced facilities, equipment and wellbeing provision for our East of England Ambulance Service staff, patients and volunteers.
Kate Lott, Head of the EEAST Charity, said “I’m so pleased that Outrun An Ambulance campaign has been recognised at the NHS Communicate awards. It’s a fantastic initiative, which has really helped to raise awareness for nationwide NHS Ambulance Charities. Across the year we have had some amazing fundraisers getting involved, collectively raising just under £4,000 for our Charity to date for use across the east of England.
‘It’s been great to see the variety of challenges which have been undertaken, many for personal reasons. We have had individuals walking for rehabilitation, others increasing their exercise to support their personal wellbeing, there have been individuals, team efforts and community groups all of which just want to make a real difference to the work we’re able to do to support our staff and volunteers across the Trust – Myself included, having completed the challenge earlier in the year.’
‘Outrun an Ambulance’ was first launched in 2021 by the South Western Ambulance Charity and generated over £10,000 of vital donations. The concept was originally conceived by Emergency Care Assistant Shannon Witts while shielding during the pandemic. She and her family rose to the challenge in 2021, outrunning the total mileage of 196 for three ambulance stations in the Gloucestershire area, raising over £600 for the South Western Ambulance Charity.
Want to take on the 2022 challenge?
There is still time! The challenge is designed to suit all people and all abilities. People can choose the distance they want to do based on the mileage clocked-up by crews during the course of a typical shift. Fundraisers can choose their timeframe, up to a maximum of three months to ‘outrun’ the distance by at least one mile, either individually or as part of a team. If you do not want to run, you can walk, swim, scoot, hand-cycle, or ride anything that is self-propelled!
If you would like to take on the challenge, you can set-up a personal fundraising page for ‘Outrun an Ambulance’ here. Fundraisers can choose the area they want to support and discover the mileage target options for their own fundraising challenge.
For updates and to share experiences of doing the challenge visit the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust Twitter page @EastEnglandAmb and use the hashtag #icanoutrunanambulance
As participants prepare for their challenge, we recommended speaking to their GP first if they have not exercised for some time or have any medical conditions or concerns. For further guidance visit www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise We also recommend people stick to well-lit areas if exercising outdoors after dark.
Published 24th October 2022