An inspirational Chester woman who was told she might not walk again, following an accident, has completed the Chester Half Marathon as a thank you to the Wales Air Ambulance medics that helped save her life.
In August 2017 Christine Lloyd was visiting Wales when unexpectedly the car she was travelling in was hit by a tractor.
The passenger side of the car took the full force of the collision, trapping Christine in the vehicle for over an hour.
Following the collision Christine was left fighting for her life and needed the help of the Wales Air Ambulance.
The Charity’s medics delivered pre-hospital care at the side of the road and flew Christine to the Major Trauma Centre at University Hospital in Stoke.
Christine’s injuries included a major internal bleed and a bleed to her brain. She also had an open fracture to her right arm, three broken ribs and she broke her back in several places.
Due to her injuries, she underwent several operations and had a long road to recovery ahead of her.
Christine, 39, said: “My doctors didn’t know if I would ever walk again so they decided to operate on my spine. I underwent a further six-hour surgery to rebuild my spine. Surgeons worked tirelessly to build a metal frame around my spine, with the hope of being able to walk again.”
Despite her daily chronic pain determined Christine lined up at the start line with her triplet brother Edward to take on the Chester Half Marathon, which she completed in an incredible 2 hours and ten minutes.
Reflecting on the ‘run of a lifetime’ the farmer’s daughter said: “All of my training paid off which is what I wanted. I achieved a good, solid, non-stop run. My chip time was 2 hours and ten minutes. As promised, we did it in style!
“To run this on behalf of the Wales Air Ambulance in its 25th anniversary year remains my complete honour. I hope my run will go on to become a beacon of hope to many.
“To run this alongside my triplet brother is something I’ll treasure forever. He was an excellent pacer too because I flew the first 8 miles, so had to calm it down after that!”
Christine added that it is difficult to express how much completing this huge achievement means to her but if she had any words for it, it would be the following:
“To anyone carrying a significant, chronic, life changing injury every single day. I know it’s not easy, I know the pain is never ending. However, I know with great character and great heart our own identities do not have to become the injuries we carry. Instead, we can choose to persevere. Turning our own pain into purpose, lighting the way for others.”
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 £13 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 lifesaving care.
Christine is so passionate about the Wales Air Ambulance, as well as completing the Chester Half Marathon, since her accident she has raised funds in a variety of different ways for the Charity.
Christine added: “Without the Wales Air Ambulance I would not have survived the car accident, and I can’t put into words how highly I think of them all.
“Over the years we’ve achieved many successes together. This run was a celebration of the incredible work the Charity continues to do, and it is also a nod to my own strength across these past years. It is a celebration of making it out the other side of some incredibly tough days.
“I owe the Wales Air Ambulance everything. We share a deep personal bond! I remain a living testimony to the incredible, world class care they provide.”
Debra Sima, Wales Air Ambulance’s Regional Fundraising Manager for the area said: “Congratulations to Christine for not only putting herself forward to run the Chester Half Marathon but completing it in an incredible time, despite her daily chronic pain. Christine is a true inspiration, and I hope she realises how special she is. Despite what she has been through she wanted to give something back to the Wales Air Ambulance, which is incredible.
“It is remarkable that after being told she might not walk again Christine has completed a half marathon for charity.
“Christine knows firsthand how important our service is and she has so far raised an amazing £1,200 for our Charity.
““Thank you, Christine. We truly appreciate your continued support, and what you do every day is remarkable. A huge thank you to her brother Edward who has supported Christine with this fundraising challenge. By taking on the Chester Half Marathon Christine has played an important part in saving lives across Wales.”
You can show your support to Christine by donating to her fundraising page www.justgiving.com/page/christine-lloyd-3
