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Midlands Air Ambulance Charity
Natalie Queiroz, former patient of Midlands Air Ambulance Charity and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham walked the route the air ambulance flew to rescue her and take her to hospital, a total of 37 miles to raise funds for the causes that saved her life.
In March 2016, Natalie was attacked in Sutton Coldfield and stabbed 24 times, whilst eight months pregnant. The advanced clinical care she received thanks to Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s aircrew and the trauma team at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham saved her and her unborn child’s lives.
On Friday 24th July 2020, Natalie took on her second challenge in aid of both charities. Beside her was fiancé, Simon Lyttle and together they walked a 37-mile route which replicated the journey that the Midlands Air Ambulance RAF Cosford aircraft made on the day of Natalie’s incident. She started at 4am from Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s RAF Cosford airbase and walked to the scene of her attack in Sutton Coldfield and then on to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.
Natalie’s fundraising total for her Saving Lives Challenge 2.0 is £4,314 with half going to each charity. The sum of £2,157 will fund ten Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s lifesaving critical care car missions. The money raised for University Hospitals Birmingham Charity will help to fund cutting-edge equipment for the Critical Care department where Natalie was treated.
Natalie said of the challenge: “This was my hardest to date for a number of reasons, not least the sheer emotional impact of it. Both charities have been incredible with their support and it has been an absolute pleasure to raise money for them.
“I have to thank my supporters on the day, especially the four military personnel who joined us on the walk – their company (and route mapping skills) were invaluable. Thank you also goes to my fantastic sponsors and all the amazing people who donated. It’s just mind-blowing in this current climate.”
Emma Gray, fundraising and marketing director for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, says: “We are very proud of Natalie and all she has achieved not only by undertaking this challenge, but her determination and spirit to make the recovery she has. We are very thankful for people like Natalie, who have gone through great adversity, but still go above and beyond to help us raise funds so the charity can continue saving lives, even during these unprecedented times.”
Cathryn Worth, fundraising manager at University Hospitals Birmingham Charity, said: “Huge congratulations go to Natalie for completing this incredible challenge. Her commitment to the two charities is remarkable, and I would like to thank her on behalf of the Critical Care department at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham for the incredible sum that she has raised.
“As a charity, we are proud to support the Critical Care department, which is the biggest single-floor critical care in Europe, and it is thanks to fundraisers like Natalie that we are able to make a difference.”
Natalie’s Saving Lives Challenge was kindly sponsored by Bootcamp Media, Reactive Recruitment and The Gracechurch Shopping Centre.
Find out more about Midlands Air Ambulance Charity by visiting the website at: midlandsairambulance.com and follow the organisation on social media.
To find out more about the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity, visit: www.hospitalcharity.org