WILTSHIRE Air Ambulance are launching a #30for30 Challenge – led by one their pilots – to mark their 30th birthday.
Elvis Costello’s day job is flying the charity’s Bell 429 helicopter to emergencies, but on Saturday 30 May he will be embarking on a 30-mile run around the Wiltshire Air Ambulance airbase in Semington. Before then he plans to run each day in his flying suit, leading up to the big challenge.
He will be supported by the charity’s critical care paramedics and staff, who are planning on taking on their own challenges across the month of May to mark Wiltshire Air Ambulance’s landmark year.
It’s also an opportunity for the people of Wiltshire to take on their own challenges and help raise funds for the charity’s lifesaving service, which costs £3.75 million a year to operate.
Elvis said: “The year 2020 was supposed to be a really special one for the charity but with the Coronavirus pandemic all of our fundraising events have unfortunately been postponed.
“I always had the idea to do something to mark the 30 years and I’m ready for the challenge at the end of this month. I’ll be running the perimeter of the airbase over and over again until I reach 30 miles.
“It’s all geared towards raising money for the charity because it needs support at this important time more than ever. It’s great that some of the paramedics are going to take on their own challenges – and it would be fantastic to see other people from across the county getting involved.”
If you’re keen to get involved, why not take a look at our list of suggested #30for30 Challenge ideas below, some of which our critical care paramedics have come up with.
Once you’ve taken part in your activity you can donate into our Online Donation Bucket. Better still shout about your activities on social media and to friends and family, with the opportunity to fundraise further for Wiltshire Air Ambulance. The Online Donation Bucket can be found here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/WAADonationBucket.
#30for30 Challenge ideas
- Run 30 miles over the space of a week or across the month of May
- Take on a 30-mile (or 3.0 mile) bike ride
- Embark on a fitness workout with 30 different exercises
- Call 30 different people to say hello in these times of isolation
- Host a 30-minute danceathon with friends over Zoom
- An ideal challenge for families is to bake 30 cupcakes (and enjoy eating them!)
- Complete 30 keepy-uppys in your back garden
- Try yoga with 30 different positions
- Perfect for children, how about a challenge to skip 30 times?
- Try a step challenge, going up and down your stairs for 30 flights
- Get involved in a 30-question online quiz with friends and family
- Fill 30 unused items into a bag ready to hand to our charity shops when they reopen
