Warwickshire teenager who suffered serious injuries in accident urges public to help save lives by taking part in air ambulance charity's Virtual Santa Fun Run

Rosie Jeffs, 14, from Ryton-on-Dunsmore will be taking part the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance's Virtual Santa Fun Run, to raise funds for the charity she – and her family – credit with saving her life.

Rosie – a pupil at Bablake Senior School in Coventry -has defied doctors since she was involved in an accident in April 2017 when she was thrown off the back of her dad’s motorcycle when he had to brake suddenly.

Despite wearing all the protective gear, Rosie suffered 10 breaks and fractures to her right femur, tibia, fibula; her left shoulder; her pelvis and jaw.

With her life expectancy at only about 45 minutes, the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA) came to Rosie’s rescue, sedated her and flew her to hospital in just seven minutes for the specialist care she so urgently needed.

Since then, Rosie has been supporting WNAA in various ways, from impressively climbing Mount Snowdon, being the face of last year’s charity Christmas Campaign, to now taking part in the Virtual Santa Fun Run – to continue raising vital funds for the lifesaving service.

“I’m really looking forward to getting involved with the Virtual Santa Fun Run and spreading some seasonal cheer – which we all currently need- to help raise crucial funds for the charity which flew to my rescue,” said Rosie.

“Every mission flown by the air ambulance costs £1,700. The charity receives no government funding and relies totally on donations to keep flying. As it's the season of goodwill to all, I am hoping that others will be encouraged to get involved in the event too, as I am living proof of the amazing work they do every day of the year – including over the Christmas period,” she added.

The charity will be holding the runs on 12 and 13 December and really urge the public to sign up, take part, and have some fun.

People can take part in their location of choice – conforming to government guidelines- and can walk, jog, or run either 1.5k or 5k.

WNAA fundraising executive, Lee Bunting, said: “This year has been a very difficult and challenging year for us all. As a charity - with the closure of all our shops and our fundraising activities cancelled - we have faced income losses of over £2million.

“However, we’ve seen first-hand how we can all pull together during difficult times, and because of the generosity of the public, WNAA has been able to continue providing a 24/7 lifesaving service to the people of Warwickshire and beyond.

“We want to end 2020 with a smile on all our faces, so we would love as many of the public to join us for our very first Virtual Santa Fun Run – we’ll even send them a Santa hat and beard by post when they sign up!”

To join Rosie and sign up to the Santa Fun Run in support of your local air ambulance, please visit: www.theairambulanceservice.org.uk/santa-fun-run/ or call 0300 3045 999.