A bakery worker is in training for a gruelling 50-mile fell race to raise money for an air ambulance in memory of her father who died of a heart attack.
Florence Roberts, 26, who works at the Village Bakery in Wrexham, will be taking part in the Long Mynd Hike which includes 8,000ft of climbing covering eight summits in the Shropshire Hills.
She’s aiming to raise £1,000 for the Midlands Air Ambulance which scrambled after her 58-year-old father, Richard Roberts, fell ill whilst driving a tractor on the family farm, Pentre David, in Hengoed, near Oswestry.
Florence, or Floss as she’s known, will be teaming up with her friend Margaret Herbert, 28, for the Herculean effort, starting at 1pm on Saturday, October 6.
The aim is to complete the course in less than 24 hours and they’ll be running in the dark for most of the race.
Floss, who works in the new product development department at the Village Bakery, is a keen runner and has done a 20-mile run and three half marathons before.
This is by far her biggest challenge so far but she’s determined to go the distance to honour her much-loved Dad.
Floss said: “Dad suffered a fatal cardiac arrest whilst in his tractor and only yards away from the family farm, where he worked tirelessly his whole life.
“Midlands Air Ambulance were called and arrived within minutes, landing and remaining on standby in an adjacent field.
“Unfortunately, the paramedics, already at the scene, were unable to save Dad despite their efforts.
“We owe a debt of gratitude to Midland Air Ambulance for responding so rapidly and waiting patiently throughout this difficult time.
“At neighbouring farm lost their dad as well in an accident on the farm, and Midlands Air Ambulance were there within minutes and rushed him straight off to hospital
“Midlands Air Ambulance respond to 2,000 call outs each years. What is not widely known is that they receive no Government funding.
“Although I’ve always been a runner, I have never done anything as challenging as this.
“The race starts at 1pm in the afternoon so most of the run is in darkness, so it makes it harder.”
“There is a 24 hour limit, but we’re aiming to do it in about 12 or 13 hours.
Robin Jones, the managing director of the Village Bakery, said: “Taking on this hugely challenging fell race is going to require a superhuman effort but Floss is made of pretty stern stuff so I am sure she will come through this with flying colours.
“Importantly, she is going to raise money for a vitally important service which responded at a moment’s notice in her family’s hour of need.
“I am sure the fond memories of her much-loved Dad will spur her on as scrambles up and down the eight peaks in the Shropshire Hills.”
Anybody wanting to make donation can do so via the Just Giving page set up by Floss: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/florence-roberts4
