Jake Gunn, 40, from Durham, joined the Great North Air Ambulance Service’s (GNAAS) critical care team in 2021 after previously working as a specialist paramedic at the North East Ambulance Service.

Jake is no stranger to unusual running challenges after previously wearing the charity’s helicopter mascot costume Ellie Copter at the Great North Run in 2022, which was not only his first time taking part in the race, but his first ever half marathon.

Two years later he decided to take on the 13.1 miles dressed in his flight suit and also carrying a 10kg training bag.

Despite the poor weather, including wind and rain, causing Jake’s uniform to be drenched, he still managed to cross the finish line along with approximately 60,000 other runners.

Hopefully the weather is drier this year, as Jake is now preparing to carry a rescue manikin over his shoulders which weighs 16kg, but this can increase to more than 20kg when wet.

He said: “The rescue manikin is used for training purposes, including when we carry out simulation exercises. They are a bit tougher than the more human looking manikins that you may have encountered, as they are made with a durable material and are packed with cloth to simulate a human body, which you can lift, drag or extricate, depending on the scenario.”

Jake has already began training with a weighted vest and is hoping to raise £1,000 for GNAAS.

He’s also enquired to see whether his challenge could potentially qualify as a Guinness World Record.

Reflecting on his time at the charity and why he’s doing this challenge, Jake said: I’m pretty inspired day to day by all the work everyone does for our incredibly special charity and me doing these daft challenges and raising some money feels like I’m helping to do my bit.”

To sponsor Jake, visit his JustGiving page here.