West Midlands paramedics to run half marathon with stretcher
If you spot eight paramedics running a half marathon with a stretcher there's no need to panic.The Hazardous Area Response Team (Hart) from West Midlands Ambulance Service will be carrying the equipment in the Great Birmingham Run on Sunday to raise money for charity.Dressed in full uniform and helmets, the team aims to raise £5,000 for children's charity Together for Short Lives and The Ambulance Staff Charity, which supports frontline workers. "It will be a huge challenge for us to carry all our equipment in uniform over 13.1 miles," Hart team leader Dale Wallis said.
More than 15,000 people are expected in Birmingham on Sunday for the half marathon and 10k run which is now sold out. The race will start at Centenary Square, passing through places like Cannon Hill Park and Edgbaston Cricket Ground before finishing in Smithfield.
As part of the team's preparations, they have been waking up at 05:00 to run 5km (three miles) or 8km ( five miles) before their 12 hour shift begins."It's to build up our strength and put all our training around family life," paramedic Ben Popple said. He added that whilst he felt nervous for the event, he looked forward to having a "refreshing beverage" after crossing the finishing line. The team aim to complete at least one challenge a year for charity and a half marathon is something they have never done before as a group.Teammate Rob Griffiths said they had raised more than £1,000 so far and were determined to reach their "ambitious" target. "We wanted to stand out and put ourselves out there to try and fundraise," he added.
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