Pedro Santos will tackle 2.4-mile circuit in his wheelchair alongside friends.
A Suffolk man whose life changed forever after a serious road traffic collision is taking on East Anglian Air Ambulance’s Trek 24 Cambridgeshire this September to give something back to the charity. Pedro Santos, 45, from Stowupland, is encouraging people of all ages and abilities to join him at the event and raise money for the Cambridge Air Base Appeal, ahead of the closure of Cambridge Airport.
In August 2022, Pedro was riding his motorcycle on a country road in Suffolk, when a van overtaking another vehicle crossed onto his side of the road. He was thrown into the air after striking the windscreen, suffering a serious spinal injury that has left him as a wheelchair user.
Recalling the moments after the collision, Pedro said: “I can remember everything. I had an instant feeling I’d damaged my spine. I couldn’t move. Someone told me that a helicopter was coming and then I heard it in the distance.”
Dr Victor Inyang, Dr James Price and Critical Care Paramedic Dave Killingback from East Anglian Air Ambulance assessed Pedro at the scene, providing him with advanced pain relief, which is carried on the charity’s helicopters and critical care cars as standard.
Pedro added: “I knew I was in good hands. They started taking care of me straight away and gave me strong painkillers immediately. I have no idea how long I was there. Time feels different when you’re on the tarmac. Lots of people helped carry me to the helicopter and then the crew got me to Addenbrooke’s really quickly.”
Due to Pedro’s suspected spinal injury, he was carefully transferred onto a stretcher before being flown to Addenbrooke’s Hospital for specialist treatment. He spent a month there before continuing his recovery at Ipswich Hospital and later undergoing rehabilitation in Sheffield.
Although Pedro now uses a wheelchair, he refuses to let the crash hold him back and has an incredible, positive outlook. He said: “Of course, I would change what happened, but I won’t let it define me. Life now is ok! I travel a lot, I still do things I love, like watching football and going to festivals; I’ve learned to adapt and haven’t slowed down at all.”
Without the support provided by East Anglian Air Ambulance, Pedro believes things could have been much worse. That’s why he will be completing the charity’s accessible 2.4-mile Trek 24 Cambridgeshire route on Sunday 6 September.
He said: “It’s a small thing, but it’s something. East Anglian Air Ambulance were there for me when I needed them the most and I want to make a difference by helping them. I encourage others to do the same too. You just never know when you or someone you love might need this lifesaving service.”
Trek 24 Cambridgeshire offers three routes – 24 miles, 24 kilometres and an accessible 2.4-mile option., The event welcomes families, groups, experienced hikers and first-time participants alike.
Funds raised through Trek 24 Cambridgeshire will directly support East Anglian Air Ambulance, which recently embarked on its biggest ever fundraising appeal. The charity urgently needs to raise £8.2 million to build a new air base just outside the village of Fulbourn – ahead of the closure of Cambridge Airport in 2030. Together we have already raised £2.6 million towards its Cambridge Air Base Appeal, thanks to the generosity of supporters across the region, but there is still a long way to go to reach the fundraising target.
Without a Cambridge base, our service risks being cut in half, leaving just one air base in Norfolk. This would dramatically increase response times to people facing life‑threatening emergencies across Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Suffolk and Norfolk.
Places for Trek 24 Cambridgeshire must be booked in advance, with tickets starting from just £6 for the accessible 2.4-mile route. Subject to taskings, participants may also have the opportunity to see the East Anglian Air Ambulance helicopter at the event, subject to taskings.
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