Paddock Wood paramedic takes on London Marathon

Eighteen years after putting on his uniform as a trainee technician, an Advanced Paramedic Practitioner from Paddock Wood is preparing for his toughest challenge yet by taking on the London Marathon.

Pete Elliott, who has spent nearly two decades with the service, will take on the 26.2 miles through London to raise funds for The Blue Light Card Foundation, a national charity dedicated to supporting emergency service personnel with their emotional, physical and mental wellbeing.

Based at Paddock Wood, Pete has seen first-hand the pressures that come with working on the frontline. That insight is what inspired him to put himself forward for the marathon, where he’ll be part of a four-person charity team and notably, the only representative from an ambulance service.

This will be Pete’s first-ever marathon and while the training has already begun, he admits he knows the hardest miles are still ahead. Each charity place comes with a fundraising target, and Pete is now calling on colleagues across the Trust to help him reach it.

Every donation made will go directly to The Blue Light Card Foundation, helping them continue their vital work supporting emergency service workers and their families across the UK and ultimately, helping Pete to raise his target of £2,500. You can support Pete’s London Marathon challenge by clicking here to view his fundraising page.

If Pete’s challenge has inspired you to take on your own fundraising, please consider supporting SECAmb Charity. Every mile you run, cake you bake or raffle you organise helps us go further for patients, staff and communities across the South East. By choosing to fundraise for SECAmb Charity, you’re supporting the paramedics, call handlers and volunteers who respond when it matters most, helping fund vital extras that go beyond NHS funding, from community defibrillators and patient support to practical wellbeing initiatives for colleagues working in high-pressure roles. Click here to find out more.