Brother's tandem adventure to raise cash for air ambulance (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Brother's tandem adventure to raise cash for air ambulance

4:00pm Tuesday 31st January 2012 in Devizes By Lewis Cowen

The brother of a girl critically injured in a road accident is taking part in a tandem bike ride to London to raise money for Wiltshire Air Ambulance – dressed as a Smurf.

Danny Williams, 22, from Victoria Park, Great Cheverell, and his close friend Dominic Walmsley, also 22, from Market Lavington, will cycle the 100 miles to the capital on March 31.

The two men have been friends since they were at Lavington School together and now work as builders for Knot Carpentry in Littleton Panell.

They decided to do the ride after Mr Williams’ younger sister, Jessica, was seriously injured when she was struck by a car just after getting off the school bus near her home on December 12.

Jessica suffered head injuries, a ruptured bladder, bruising to her lung and a severely broken leg as a result of the crash. She was in intensive care at Frenchay Hospital for some weeks and had to spend Christmas there.

She is now recovering and hopes to return to Lavington School after the half-term break.

Danny Williams said: "I felt I wanted to do something for the air ambulance because they did such a great job for Jess.

"Dom and I came up with the idea of the tandem ride and the fact that we’re doing it as Smurfs is just a bit of fun."

Mr Walmsley himself suffered a family tragedy some years ago when his father, Nick, lost his life in a car crash.

Mr Walmsley said: "The air ambulance was involved, although it couldn’t help Dad."

Mr Williams’ parents, Hank and Sharon, are delighted that he and Mr Walmsley are doing something for the people who saved their daughter’s life.

Hank Williams, a former prison officer at Erlestoke Prison and now a driver for Bodman’s Coaches, said: “I am absolutely convinced that if they hadn’t got Jess to Frenchay as quickly as they did, she wouldn’t be here now.

“I remember the paramedics at the scene looking at each other and shaking their heads. That was a terrible moment.

“But she has made an amazing recovery and I can’t thank the air ambulance enough.

“They have given us back our daughter.”

Anyone who would like to sponsor the duo on their epic ride can do so at www.justgiving.com/smurfs