Put your best paw forward for the HIOW Air Ambulance

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (HIOWAA) are hosting their first event for four-legged friends! ‘Paws in the Park’ is your pet dog’s chance to take the lead and help raise vital funds for the Charity.

The 5-mile walk will take place at Lepe Country Park on Saturday 14th July and each participating pooch will receive a medal and congratulatory treat. Pets are urged to bring their owners, so the whole family can enjoy the day together.

Entry is £10 per walking woofer and owners are urged to raise £30 sponsorship, which will go directly towards helping to keep the Air Ambulance flying and saving lives.

So far this year, HIOWAA’s Critical Care Teams of doctors, paramedics and pilots have attended over 423 missions. The teams respond to emergencies across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, day and night, 365 days a year, bringing their medical expertise to anywhere from a roadside to a country field, as Mary Spencer discovered on the morning of New Years Eve 2017.

Mary and her husband were out walking their dogs with friends when they needed the expert care and speed of the Air Ambulance.

Mary, from Tadley, suffered from Sarcoma; a rare form of soft tissue cancer. After many operations and sessions of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, she was warned that one of the side effects was a higher risk of fractures.

“I was standing with my husband and our dogs waiting for our friends to come back when, out of nowhere, there was a loud odd noise and I fell to the floor with the worst pain I have ever felt in my leg; it felt like my leg had snapped in two. I now know that I had fractured my femur.”

An ambulance was called, but they quickly decided that it would be too difficult and extremely painful to try and move Mary across the uneven ground. The Air Ambulance was needed.

HIOWAA doctors and paramedics arrived in minutes and administered pain relief before flying Mary to Basingstoke hospital.

Mary is still recovering but is urging all her dog walking friends to take part in Paws in the Park.

“It will be wonderful event and such a great way to support Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance. Like me, you never know when you will need them.”

Online registration is now open at www.hiowaa.org