Eight hours, one team, one air base appeal

The team of athletes began discussing ideas. Knowing they wanted to base their fundraising challenge around the number ‘eight’ to match the Cambridge Air Base appeal fundraising target, they landed on an eight-hour challenge. This would incorporate rowing, cycling, running and walking, enabling the team of 18 to each take part in a way that suited them best.

Organiser and Cantabs member, Jess Allen, says: “An East Anglian Air Ambulance crew has helped one of our coaches, one of my family members, and the new base is due to be built not far from my home, so we were inspired in many ways to do what we can to help the charity raise the funds it needs.”

Starting bright and early at 8am on the Sunday before the August Bank Holiday, the team gathered at the Cantabs boathouse on the River Cam, full of enthusiasm for the eight hours ahead. A WhatsApp group and whiteboard meant they could keep in touch, share photos, boost motivation, keep spirits high and record their distances as the eight hours progressed.

“I think we were all surprised to hear that East Anglian Air Ambulance relies on public donations,” Jess explains. “It was great for us to get together as a team to play a part in supporting their Cambridge Air Base Appeal. I did the challenge on a bike and rowing machine, while others ran, walked, cycled or rowed on the water.”

From volunteers, donors and fundraisers, to pilots, doctors and critical care paramedics, it takes a whole team to keep East Anglian Air Ambulance ready to respond — and the Cantabs crew demonstrated that teamwork in action.

As the challenge neared its end, Jess dug even deeper. “I was keeping an eye on my distance, and I said to my coach, ‘let’s see if I can reach 100km.’ I was at my most tired, but I went for it,” Jess adds. “At that point, the girls who had been rowing on the water came into the boathouse so several of us could finish together. Collectively, we covered 461km during the eight hours.”

Through their incredible efforts, the Cantabs Senior Women’s squad raised £1,542 in aid of the Cambridge Air Base Appeal. Community support like this is the backbone of the appeal. Every fundraising challenge, however big or small, brings us closer to a future where our Cambridge crew can keep responding to the patients and families who need them most – day or night, whatever the emergency. It’s the generous and humbling efforts like those of the Cantabs’ that remind us this appeal isn’t just about bricks and mortar; it’s about making sure lifesaving care is there for our community for years to come.

Jess continues, “We were inspired to help the air base appeal, and it became very important to us to get involved because it would be terrible if the East Anglian Air Ambulance Cambridge crew wasn’t there to help our community. We’re all looking forward to seeing the new base once it’s been built.”

Christine Wright, Community Fundraising Lead at East Anglian Air Ambulance, says, “We’re incredibly grateful to the Cantabs Women’s Senior squad for their brilliant eight-hour challenge with over £1,500 raised for the East Anglian Air Ambulance Cambridge Air Base Appeal. It’s so much more than a donation; it’s kindness from people who care deeply about their community. This will help to make sure the fastest, most advanced care is available when someone needs it, helping to save the lives of future generations.”