WILTSHIRE Air Ambulance crew members are gearing up for a virtual bike marathon to raise money for portable lifesaving equipment.

This week they aim to pedal 654 miles – the distance from the WAA base in Semington, near Trowbridge, to each of the hospitals they airlift patients to.

This includes Swindon's Great Western, Salisbury District, Southampton General, John Radcliffe, Gloucester Royal, Bristol Royal Infirmary & Children’s Hospital, Southmead, Weston General and RUH in Bath.

They are raising money through sponsorship to generate funds to buy a machine that will help them give blood transplants even more quickly during emergencies,

Critical care paramedic Richard Miller said: “We’ve seen a downturn in our funding during the pandemic and have decided to show all our donors and the community how much we love this charity by raising money for an urgent vital piece of medical equipment needed during these difficult times.”

The air ambulance started carrying packs of red blood cells five years ago and pre-hospital blood transfusions have been carried out by critical care paramedics and doctors more than once per month on average.

The machine – costing £5,182 – ensures critically ill and injured patients can receive the blood products at the required temperature to enter the bloodstream quicker.

Visit wiltshireairambulance.co.uk to sponsor them.