A DEDICATED Malvern councillor has thanked the public for their incredible support after he successfully completed the Worcester City 10km race in honour of those who saved his life earlier this year.
Powick district and county councillor Tom Wells almost died when he suffered severe burns from a bonfire accident at his home in Callow End in April.
As a gesture, Coun Wells took part in the Worcester City 10km earlier this month to thank those who came to his rescue after the horrific incident.
He raised £1,075 for the Midlands Air Ambulance service who saved his life after they quickly transferred him to the burns unit at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham – where he stayed for up to two months receiving treatment.
The Midlands Air Ambulance receives no Government or National Lottery funding. Each Midlands Air Ambulance mission costs £2,500 and in excess of £7million is needed each year to keep its three air ambulances operational.
Coun Wells told his Facebook followers he was so pleased to get past his £1,000 target and admitted doing the race was the ‘least he could do’ after his life was saved.
He said: “I did it. Thanks to the amazing support from so many people. I raised over my target of £1,000 in sponsorship by running the Worcester City 10km race.
“When I told the physiotherapists and consultant at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital that I was determined to run in the race, I could see from their expressions they didn’t think that would be possible.
“That only served to spur me on and made me even more determined to run the distance in support of the air ambulance that flew me to specialist burns unit so quickly.
“To put it simply, it saved my life and so the run was the least i could do to support this incredible service.”
More than 3,000 people signed up to take part in this year’s event which was the third in its history.
Event founder and athletics legend Steve Cram said: “It’s been brilliant to see this event grow in the last three years and firmly establish itself on the sporting calendar in Worcester and the surrounding area.”
