An ultra runner has challenged himself to run in a mascot costume at the Great North Run in support of the charity who helped save his dad’s life.
Graeme Fleming, 39, from Carlisle, who now resides in Cambridgeshire, will be running 13.1 miles wearing the Great North Air Ambulance Service’s (GNAAS) ‘Percy the paramedic’ mascot costume.
This is the third time he will be running the half marathon, which takes place on 7 September, and he will be joined by his sister Alex Ridley, 35, from Carlisle who will be running it for the second time.
They first ran it together in 2017, raising over £5,000 for GNAAS thanks to the generous support of loyal customers from their dad’s milk business.
He said: “I’ve decided to run this year’s Great North Run as GNAAS’ mascot, Percy the paramedic, as I’m pretty accustomed to running any distance from 5km all the way up to 100mile ultras so I thought, what way could I challenge myself and help boost fundraising.”
In addition to the siblings running the Great North Run, their sister Gina Fleming, 34, who lives in Newport, Wales, has already completed the Newport Marathon this year to raise funds for the air ambulance service who came to the aid of their dad Stephen Fleming.
Recalling the incident, which occurred in August 2015, Graeme said: “The accident itself happened on a day like any other. Dad and I had been out delivering milk and newspapers and were moving stock at his refrigerated unit when he had a fall from height.
“With dad unresponsive and bleeding, I had to call 999 and wait for a first responder, and it was deemed the air ambulance was needed.”
A paramedic and doctor team from GNAAS arrived on scene and worked alongside the North West Ambulance Service to assess and treat Stephen who had sustained a severe head injury.
He said: “After GNAAS arrived they were very thorough and got straight to work on dad and made the call that he needed to be airlifted from the accident site in Carlisle over to the RVI in Newcastle. Once at the RVI the nursing team were fantastic with aiding in his recovery and rehab over the four months he spent there.
“Life obviously took a while to get back on track after the events of that day but we as a family are just so glad that the air ambulance service was there when needed to give dad the best fighting chance for survival.
“In the 10 years since, there have been two weddings and six grandchildren born, all of which we would’ve had to experience without our dad, had he not received rapid life-saving care.”
During a recent open day at GNAAS’ base in Langwathby Penrith for Great North Run runners, Stephen, who is now 66, was able to meet pilot Phil Lambert and paramedic Terry Sharpe who attended his incident.
Graeme said: “I feel it’s very important to raise money for GNAAS not only as a little thank you for undoubtedly saving our dad’s life but also to help keep them operating to be there to help others in a time of need.”
The siblings have already surpassed their initial fundraising target and have currently raised £1,493. To sponsor them, visit their JustGiving page here.
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