Survivor’s 10-mile walk raises £10,000

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A Woking man saved by the Surrey Air Ambulance after a serious car accident has raised almost £10,000 from his annual fundraising walk, to help keep the helicopter flying.

 

Darren Cooper, 27, was driving to work when his car veered across the road and hit a tree on the A322 at Knaphill.

 

He had to be cut free by firefighters and was anaesthetised and intubated by the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) crew.

 

Darren was then airlifted to the neurological centre at King’s College Hospital in London with a fractured skull and eye socket.

 

He spent two weeks in hospital and needed two operations to rebuild his eye socket but has since made a full recovery following the accident in March, 2008.

 

Last month he raised a record amount of £9,361 for the life-saving charity from his North Downs Walk which is open to all members of the public.

 

He said: “I feel really proud that the North Downs Walk has become such a popular event and a really good fundraiser for the Surrey Air Ambulance.

 

“The money raised this year is absolutely amazing and there were quite a few new faces. I was among three walkers who were rescued by the helicopter.

 

“It was a good day for walking apart from a bit of rain at lunchtime and everyone had stiff legs the next day.

 

“Lots of people have been enquiring about next year’s walk already so I’m really pleased about that.”

 

Darren’s mother Diane was among the 65 walkers who trekked from Newlands Corner to Chilworth, Blackheath, Chinthurst and the River Wey before re-joining the North Downs Way.

 

This year’s walk featured a fly-over from the life-saving crew of the Dunsfold-based helicopter which needs £1.7m-a-year to stay airborne. Last year the walk raised £8,000 and £7,500 the year before.

 

A true champion of the cause, Darren also ran this-year’s first-ever Brighton Marathon in aid of the charity.

 

County Fundraiser Julie Jenkinson said: “Each flying mission costs between £1,500 and £2,000 so the sum raised from this year’s walk has effectively helped us to potentially save six lives.”

 

Darren is still seeking sponsorship online at www.northdownswalk.co.uk or at www.justgiving.com/northdownswalk2010.

 

If you would like to make a donation to the Air Ambulance please call 01622 833833. Alternatively cheques can be made payable to Surrey Air Ambulance and posted to Wheelbarrow Park Estate, Pattenden Lane, Marden, Kent, TN12 9QJ