A grateful Scottish man who needed the help of the Wales Air Ambulance will return to Wales to complete an Ultra-Trail Snowdonia 50k as a thank you to the medics that came to his aid.
In 2024 Kenny Reid, from Dundee, was involved in an accident whilst riding his motorbike in Powys.
Following the accident Kenny was treated by the Charity’s critical care team and flown to the major trauma unit at the Royal Stoke University Hospital.
Kenny, an Engineering Manager, said: “I was lying at the side of the road in Wales with a broken left wrist, right arm, right shoulder blade and a badly torn muscle in my leg, not really sure what the future was going to look like. I had just been involved in a bad accident on my motorbike caused by another driver.
“Fortunately, the Wales Air Ambulance attended the scene of the accident, assessing my injuries and providing specialist medical treatment at the side of the road, before taking me to hospital.”
Kenny, 37, underwent major surgery to fix the bones in his wrist and arm, before he was discharged and had a long trip back home to Dundee.
As a thank you to the Charity, Kenny has set himself the huge challenge of completing the Ultra-Trail Snowdonia 50k on 16 May.
The Ultra-Trail Snowdonia 50k is a challenging mountain ultramarathon with over 3,400m+ of elevation gain, held in Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park.
Kenny who hasn’t always been a runner, ran two half marathons last year and ‘then went all out’ in October when he completed the Bennachie Ultra, a 50km ultramarathon with 1500m ascent.
Reflecting on how far he has come since the accident, Kenny said: “I’m incredibly grateful for the help I have received from everyone following the accident, but I know without the specialist support of the Wales Air Ambulance team, things could have been a lot worse.
“Recovery hasn’t been easy, but they have undoubtedly given me the chance to make the best recovery possible.
“On the whole, my health is in a pretty good place now. I’ve been working hard to make as good a recovery as I can. I’m still seeing a physio to work on strength and mobility, but my cardio fitness and endurance have far exceeded where it was before the accident.
“My family think I’m a bit crazy to take on this challenge, but they also think it’s a great cause to be able to give back to. They are proud of me for doing it.”
Kenny has set himself the fundraising target of £2,900 and has already raised an incredible £2,097 for the lifesaving cause.
Wales Air Ambulance is consultant-led, taking hospital-standard treatments to the patient and, if required, transferring them directly to the most appropriate hospital for their illness or injury. It is delivered via a unique third-sector and public-sector partnership.
The Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) supplies highly skilled NHS consultants and critical care practitioners who work on board the Charity’s vehicles.
This advanced critical care includes the ability to administer anaesthesia, deliver blood transfusions and conduct minor operations, all at the scene of an incident.
As a pan-Wales service, its dedicated crews, regardless of where they are based, will travel the length and breadth of the country to deliver emergency lifesaving care.
Kate Thomas, Wales Air Ambulance’s Regional Fundraising Manager said: “It is always wonderful to hear of past patients that despite what they have been through want to take on a challenge to raise funds for the Wales Air Ambulance.
“Kenny underwent major surgery in hospital, and since then has worked hard to build up his fitness to take on this huge challenge, which is incredible. We would like to wish Kenny the best of luck with the challenge. Kenny has already raised over £2,000 of his fundraising target, which is amazing.
“Wales Air Ambulance needs to raise £13 million every year to keep our helicopters in the air and our rapid response vehicles on the road. Fundraisers, like Kenny’s, will help us continue to be there for the people of Wales when they need us most. Thank you so much for supporting the Charity. We are extremely grateful.
“Thank you to everyone who is supporting Kenny with his fundraiser.”
You can show your support to Kenny by donating to his fundraising page
https://www.justgiving.com/page/kenny-reid-2
