A student from Chester has completed one of her ‘greatest achievements’ in memory of her much-loved brother.
Chloe Astin recently took part in the Chester Marathon in memory of Ollie, who suddenly passed away, aged just 24, in a road traffic accident.
Since his death Chloe, 27, has wanted to raise funds for the Wales Air Ambulance after Ollie spent a lot of time riding his motorbike in Wales.
She started her fundraising for the all-Wales Charity in the summer where she walked 60 miles over two days from Chester to Conwy with her friends Abbie, Holly, Izzy and Ella.
This was followed by completing the Chester Marathon a month ago. Chloe has raised an incredible £2,957 for the Wales Air Ambulance.
A grateful Chloe said: “An air ambulance played a vital role in responding to the emergency that day, and ever since then, I have wanted to give something back to an air ambulance service in his memory. Supporting the charity feels like a way of keeping Ollie’s memory alive and helping other families who might find themselves in similar circumstances.
“Ollie wasn’t just my brother, he was my very first best friend in life. He was the person I laughed the loudest, smiled the hardest, and cried the most with. We shared so many memories growing up, from silly inside jokes to spontaneous adventures that usually ended with us laughing so much we could barely breathe.
“He had this infectious energy that could light up any room and a huge heart that made everyone around him feel loved. Ollie had a gift for helping people, often when they weren’t asking or looking for it and when they needed it most, and he could turn even the simplest day into something special.”
Reflecting on her fundraising for the Charity, Chloe, who is a studying primary education at University of Chester, said: “They have both been some of the hardest things I have ever done, physically, mentally and emotionally. However, in particular the marathon is one of my greatest achievements.”
When Chole first signed by for the marathon she could barely run a mile but was confident that she could do the marathon for Ollie.
Chloe said taking part in the Chester Marathon was an ‘emotional rollercoaster’ from start to finish, she added: “I was determined to tick a marathon off my bucket list, but more than that, I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it for Ollie. I know he wouldn’t necessarily be proud, he’d be laughing his head off at me for putting myself through what he’d call absolute torture, but that thought alone kept me smiling, and sometimes crying, through the miles.
“There were moments I wanted to give up, but thinking about Ollie and why I was doing it gave me strength to keep moving. Crossing the finish line was overwhelming! A mix of relief, pride, and love. Knowing I did it for him made every step worth it.”
The 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 Wales Air Ambulance Charity relies on public donations to raise the £11.2 million required every year to keep the helicopters in the air and rapid response vehicles on the road.
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 critical care.
Chloe is thankful to her family and friends for their support during both fundraisers. She raised £1,907 by completing the Chester Marathon and £1,050 during the two-day walk.
She said: “My family and friends have been incredible. They’ve supported me every step of the way, from training runs to cheering me on during the marathon itself. Everyone’s been so proud and touched by what I’ve done in Ollie’s memory, and so generous. I honestly couldn’t have done it without their encouragement and donations.
“Ollie is missed more than I could ever put into words, each and every single day, but his spirit lives on in the laughter, stories, and memories we share. Everything I do in his memory is just a small reflection of the huge impact he had on everyone who was lucky enough to know him.”
Debra Sima, Regional Fundraising Manager for North East Wales said: “It is heartwarming that Chloe has chosen to raise funds for the Wales Air Ambulance after sadly losing her much loved brother, Ollie. It is evident the incredible bond Chloe had with Ollie, and her fundraising is a wonderful way to remember him.
“Chloe set herself two huge challenges and used her determination to complete them. Chloe and her family know firsthand how important air ambulances are. We’re extremely grateful that Chloe is keeping Ollie’s memory alive by wanting to raise funds for our Charity.
“Chloe has raised an incredible amount for the Wales Air Ambulance in memory of Ollie and she should be extremely proud of herself. Thank you to everyone who has supported her with both fundraising events.
“Every pound raised will help keep our helicopters in the air and our rapid response vehicles on the road.”
There’s still time to show your support to Chloe by donating to her fundraising page here
www.justgiving.com/page/chloe-astin-waa
