Wendy has raised more than £112,000 for East Anglian Air Ambulance since her husband, Jonathan, was attended by the charity’s crew following a life-threatening accident on the family's farm back in 2020.
The BBC Make a Difference Awards celebrate people, volunteers, neighbours, carers and animals around the country, who go above and beyond to make a positive difference to the lives of others. Wendy is a finalist for the BBC Cambridgeshire Fundraiser award, recognising the phenomenal amount she has raised, and her sustained dedication to a cause with such personal significance.
Wendy’s fundraising journey began with a deeply personal experience. In October 2020, Jonathan was involved in a serious accident on the family farm near Wisbech. He was impaled by a forklift tine, which entered his lower back and exited through his abdomen, putting several major internal organs and blood vessels at severe risk.
The incident was time-critical and required a complex response. A crew from East Anglian Air Ambulance worked alongside ambulance, police, and fire and rescue teams for around 45 minutes to assess Jonathan’s injuries, coordinate his extrication and ensure he could be safely transported to hospital for lifesaving surgery.
Determined to give something back to the charity that helped save her husband’s life, Wendy and her family organised a charity ball in 2021. The event raised an incredible £53,000 in its first year and has since grown into an annual major fundraising event, bringing together friends, family and local businesses. Since 2021 Wendy has raised more than £112,000 for East Anglian Air Ambulance.
Wendy says: “On the day of Jonathan’s accident, I remember looking up to the sky and seeing the East Anglian Air Ambulance helicopter. I truly believe it was due to the decision making of the air ambulance crew at the scene that Jonathan managed to make it to Addenbrooke’s Hospital for lifesaving surgery. That night, I made a promise that I would do everything I could to help keep East Anglian Air Ambulance flying to save more families like ours.”
Wendy continues: “The charity relies on public donations, and each mission costs an average of £4,250. The money we’ve raised so far could save 26 lives - 26 families like ours. That’s why I’ll continue doing fundraising for as long as we can. I’m exceptionally humbled to be shortlisted for a BBC Make a Difference Award. It’s my pleasure to raise money for East Anglian Air Ambulance, and I hope to continue doing it for many years.”
Tammy Swiderski, Community Fundraising Lead at East Anglian Air Ambulance, said: “Everyone at East Anglian Air Ambulance would like to congratulate Wendy on this fantastic and well-deserved achievement. Her tireless commitment to fundraising over the years has made an incredible difference to our work, helping us provide our lifesaving service to people across Cambridgeshire and its surrounding counties. We are hugely grateful for Wendy’s support and dedication. It is wonderful to see her recognised through the BBC Make a Difference Awards scheme and we wish her the very best of luck at the forthcoming ceremony.”
East Anglian Air Ambulance is entirely reliant on public donations and receives no regular government funding. Every donation helps the charity continue to bring specialist doctors and critical care paramedics to people across Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk when they need them most. The charity is currently fundraising to build a new air base in Cambridge, on the outskirts of the village of Fulbourn.
To learn more about East Anglian Air Ambulance or to donate to the Cambridge Air Base Appeal, please visit: www.eaaa.org.uk
