East Garston

The "Helen Grace Memorial Ride" is an annual sponsored ride in Memory of Helen who was tragically lost to us in an accident involving one of her own horses. In 2006 she was in East Garston, boxing the horse to take to a show when it barrelled, kicking out with both back legs, repeatedly hitting her in the chest. The air ambulance was called and rushed her to Great Western Hospital in Swindon, where she later died from her injuries.

All riders are backed by local sponsors, with the money they raise going to the
Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance based in RAF Benson

The starting point for today's ride was Lorne Hill Farm courtesy of Jonathan and Joanne Rabbitts

With all statutory checks complete, and after making sure all riders were conversant with the route, it was time for the off.

All riders returned to Lorne Hill farm, completing the ride in or around two hours. It was then time to tuck into some very welcome refreshment in the form of piping hot soup, hot dogs and brownies. All courtesy of Claire Hill from Pounds Farm.

Bob Grace, (Helen's Husband) said of the day. The ride went well and I am pleased to advise that a total of £392 has been raised for the Air Ambulance. He praised the riders for their efforts and for their continuing support, and added that It was a nice thing for him to have a memorial day for Helen every year. The award for the best turned out horse was presented by Bob, to Hannah Ward who will now be responsible for organizing next year's ride.

Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance Trust.

The Thames Valley Air Ambulance is here to save lives. Covering Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, the service has flown more than 10,000 missions to get people to hospital. Whatever the emergency, the air ambulance is a vital service aimed at getting people treatment within the golden hour – the period of time when they have the best chance of surviving a serious incident. It's ability to land in difficult places is a key asset in the areas it covers given the many rural places that a conventional ambulance would struggle to reach.

But you can help them as much as they help you. The air ambulance costs £1.7m a year to keep running, and receives no funding from the Government, NHS or the National Lottery. Everything it needs to keep running comes from the public in the form of donations, fundraising, legacies and sponsorship.

Please click the helicopter photo and visit the Air Ambulance website to find out how you can help this essentially vital service.