East Anglian Air Ambulance is calling on local businesses to step up and take on Trek 24 Cambridgeshire this September – a hiking challenge that will raise money to help keep the charity’s lifesaving emergency service flying from the county.
Taking place on Sunday 6 September, Trek 24 Cambridgeshire offers participants the chance to walk either 24 miles, 24 kilometres or 2.4 miles across the Cambridgeshire countryside. With three different walking routes available, all starting from Cambridge and Newmarket Polo Club, the event is designed to appeal to everyone – including businesses looking to enter teams to take on a fun challenge with colleagues – all whilst raising money for charity.
Funds raised through Trek 24 Cambridgeshire will directly support East Anglian Air Ambulance, which recently embarked on its biggest ever fundraising appeal. The charity urgently needs to raise £8.2 million to build a new air base just outside the village of Fulbourn – ahead of the closure of Cambridge Airport in 2030.
Without a Cambridge base, the air ambulance’s service risks being cut in half, leaving just one air base in Norfolk. This would dramatically increase response times to people facing life‑threatening emergencies across Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Suffolk and Norfolk.
Stuart Wyle, Director of Fundraising and Supporters, at East Anglian Air Ambulance, said: “Launching Trek 24 Cambridgeshire is a hugely exciting moment for our charity and our supporters across the local area. The event will bring people together for an unforgettable challenge - but it also comes at a pivotal time as we work to raise money for our Cambridge Air Base Appeal. A new, purpose-built base in Cambridge will help ensure our crews can continue delivering critical care by air and road to patients who need us most, now and in the future. Every step taken and every pound raised from this event will help power lifesaving missions and bring us closer to making our vision a reality. We really hope the Cambridge business community will get behind this event, lace up their walking boots, and help us take another important step towards securing the future of our operations in the county.”
Trek 24 Cambridgeshire will start from Cambridge and Newmarket Polo Club with different start times for each route, and rest stops available on the two longer course options.
- The 2.4-mile route, which will begin at 2.30pm, will stay out in the countryside around Bottisham
- The 24km route will start at 10am heading into Cambridge alongside the River Cam, before looping back out of the city along Newmarket Road and through Fen Ditton, back to the start.
- The longer 24-mile route will begin at 8am, taking the same path as the 24-km route into Cambridge. However, at Chesterton, walkers will continue into the city, heading out to Grantchester and Addenbrooke’s Hospital, before diverting East back towards Bottisham via Fulbourn.
Every participant in the 24-mile and 24-km treks will receive:
- An official Trek 24 t-shirt
- Snack and drink stops (on the longer routes)
- A hot meal and celebratory drink at the finish
- A finisher’s medal.
Participants completing the 2.4-mile route will receive a finisher’s medal and t-shirt, but refreshments and meals are not provided due to the shorter distance.
Subject to taskings, there will also be an appearance by the East Anglian Air Ambulance helicopter.
Places for Trek 24 Cambridgeshire must be booked in advance. Tickets start from as little as £6 for the shorter family friendly route with different entry options linked to fundraising for the longer distance walks. To find out more or to sign up, please visit:https://www.eaaa.org.uk/support-us/events/trek-24/cambridgeshire
To learn more about how to donate directly to the Cambridge Air Base Appeal, please visit: https://www.eaaa.org.uk/cambridge-air-base-appeal
Working alongside the emergency services, East Anglian Air Ambulance responds to the most serious one per cent of emergency calls. In 2025 alone, its crews provided critical care to 1,845 people, including 151 children. From its Cambridge base, the Anglia Two helicopter can reach approximately 1.2 million people within just ten minutes.
