Granddaughter of man thrown from horse on West Wittering beach raises funds for air ambulance

The granddaughter of a man who was thrown from his horse on West Wittering beach is raising funds for the air ambulance to say thank you for rescuing him.
Scarlett and Paul FullerScarlett and Paul Fuller
Scarlett and Paul Fuller

Paul Fuller was seriously injured in the incident on Sunday, July 12, and was treated by the Air Ambulance Kent Surrey Sussex’s (KSS) specialist doctor at the scene.

He was then transported by helicopter to St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester.

Paul is now recovering at home.

Scarlett FullerScarlett Fuller
Scarlett Fuller
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His nine-year-old granddaughter, Scarlett Fuller, was inspired to help support the service and has set herself the challenge of cycling 30 miles throughout the 30 days of September.

She said: “I am looking forward to completing my bike ride challenge. I hope to reach my target and the money raised goes to helping people in the future.”

Her mother, Sarah Fuller, said: “When Scarlett found out that KSS is a charity and that it needs to raise its own funds in order to provide its extraordinary service, she really wanted to help.

“We are really proud of Scarlett, who loves helping out.”

KKS crewKKS crew
KKS crew

Paul said she was ‘a top girl’, adding: “I am really proud of her for raising awareness for such an amazing charity.”

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Scarlett’s fundraiser has already exceeded its target by raising £270 – help to support it here.

She has become the youngest person to date to sign up for the KSS 30 for 30 Challenge, which encourages participants to create their own 30-themed fundraiser during the 30 days of September to mark KSS’s 30th anniversary

The fundraiser is focused on health and well-being, encouraging supporters to get up and get active, or take up a challenge that focuses on promoting well-being, like learning a new skill.

It could be giving up a favourite treat for 30 days to running 30 miles, taking on a 30-minute fitness challenge or reading 30 new books.

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KSS hopes that the 30 for 30 Challenge will help the charity raise much-needed funds.

In April, KSS launched its Coronavirus Emergency Appeal to cover the additional costs of operating its pre-hospital emergency response service safely during the pandemic, and to cover a significant shortfall in its income resulting from the cancellation of all major fundraising events.

Although the Appeal has raised over £1.5m to date, enabling KSS to be fully operational at all times, the charity is still facing a shortfall of £1.4m that it must raise to ensure it can continue to save lives 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Lynne Harris, Executive Director of Income Generation at KSS, says: “Scarlett is an inspiration, and we are so grateful to her and to everyone who has signed up to take part in our 30 for 30 Challenge so far.”

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“We had a number of special events planned to celebrate our 30th anniversary this year, and to thank our wonderful supporters.

“Although these are unable to happen at the current time, we really hope that this Challenge is a way for us to celebrate and to help us to raise much-needed funds.

Over the past 30 years, the service has treated more than 30,000 patients with its life-saving emergency care.

“It costs more than £14 million a year to sustain our service and amazingly 89 per cent is donated and raised by the people of Kent, Surrey and Sussex – amazing people like Scarlett,” Ms Harris said.

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“Coronavirus has drastically impacted our fundraising plans in so many ways – including the decision to stop all canvassing activity for our lottery and our planned store collections, prioritising the health and safety of our canvassers, volunteers and the public who support us.

“Now, we need your help to ensure we are here 24/7 for the next 30,000 patients who need us.”

Find out more about the 30 for 30 challenge by visiting www.aakss.org.uk

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