Newport woman, 27, tackling Amazon trek for Midlands Air Ambulance

Emily Glew, 27, has signed up to take part in a gruelling journey in May which will see her travel to Brazil on a nine-day adventure, with the target of raising £6,000 for the charity.

She’ll be surrounded by thousands of species of animals and insects and will take part in nocturnal wildlife excursions to find even more - many of which could be poisonous and deadly.

Emily said: “The Amazon Adventure is truly a once in a lifetime experience where I’ll get to see and experience things I’d never get the chance to anywhere else. I’ve always been an outdoor person, and a self-confessed thrill-seeker, and had come across this challenge hosted by Midlands Air Ambulance Charity at an awards evening.

"Although it’ll be an amazing opportunity for me personally, and it will no doubt push me out of my comfort zone, the goal is to raise as much as I can for a charity that saves so many lives across the region."

Emily, who is a marketing manager at Wolverhampton-based Paycare, said the team at the company had been very supportive.

"The company has set up a website page on the company site so that I can share daily updates on what I’m doing and how the funds raised will help Midlands Air Ambulance continue doing their fantastic work.

"At Paycare, we’re a not-for-profit and to date have donated over £2.2million towards great causes and projects. I’ll be using some of my annual leave to do as much as I can for the charity including time for training and preparations, as well as the two additional days Paycare kindly gives to everyone here so that we can support causes close to our hearts.”

Midlands Air Ambulance has three air ambulances which operate primarily across six counties as well as supporting the surrounding regions, responding to over 2,000 calls a year.

They are able to reach 90 per cent of the area they cover within eight minutes, and their fast response dramatically increases the chances of survival by getting patients to hospital within 60 minutes after their injury.

But Midlands Air Ambulance Charity receives no funding from the Government or the National Lottery, meaning they rely on public donations to raise the £9m needed to keep the service going each year.

Emily said: “It costs around £2,500 every time an air ambulance is sent to a patient – so the more money I can raise the better to ensure they can continue their vital work.

"Any of us, or our family members or friends, could need an air ambulance one day so I’m really hopeful lots of people will get behind the fundraising and I can embark on the trek having exceeded my target.”

Visit paycare.org/amazon-trek