18 Feb Rayleigh man is tackling the Marathon in memory of his friend
Following a tragic incident last summer, Mark Lanning from Rayleigh will be taking part in this year’s London Marathon April to say thank you to Essex & Herts Air Ambulance.
Last June Mark got a call to say that his close friend of 25 years was seriously ill and the Air Ambulance was on its way.
He recalls: “I got round there to find five paramedic cars and an ambulance. They had called the Air Ambulance on the off chance that they could get his heart started and to take him to Basildon Hospital (Essex Cardiothoracic Centre).
“Seeing what they did to try to save my friend’s life was unbelievable. I worked with him for 25 years. For 16 years we drove in the same car each day, 106 mile round trip from Essex to Hertfordshire. Some people have said we were like we were a married couple! So I really appreciate what they did that night to try and save my mate and I wanted to give something back. I didn’t know EHAAT were a Charity before the incident.”
Mark says his friend’s family will all be out cheering him round the marathon course on Sunday 28th April, but even when he is training he doesn’t feel alone.
To support Mark Lanning’s fundraising effort, visit https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MarkLanning. Runners with a London Marathon place can get more information about how to raise funds for EHAAT by visiting ehaat.org or calling 0345 2417 690 and speaking to a member of the Fundraising Team.
