PARALYMPIAN REFLECTS ON HER FIRST MONTHS AS A WILTSHIRE AIR AMBULANCE AMBASSADOR

Former Paralympian and elite tennis player Louise Hunt PLY, who became an ambassador for Wiltshire Air Ambulance earlier this year, believes working with the charity has opened her eyes to the need for such an emergency service.

“These first few months of working with the team at Wiltshire Air Ambulance has really made me appreciate how important this service is to my local community. In fact it was due to personal experience that I jumped at the chance to support the charity.

“The air ambulance came to the aid of a very close family friend who was taken ill suddenly. Sadly this friend passed away however I, my family and friends will always be grateful for the highly experienced and kind team from WAA and the speed in which they got to her to try and help.

“This service is one we all hope we will never need – yet I promise you, you’ll forever grateful if you need their emergency service.”

The 31-year-old wheelchair tennis champion was invited to become an ambassador earlier in the year and visited the team’s base in Semington, where she met with pilots and medics. With an annual cost of £4 million – which equates to £11,000 a day -  the charity relies on donations as it receives no regular direct government funding

“When I learnt more about the real-life stories and how many lives the crews have saved it made me feel passionate about supporting the charity in any way I can this year and next,” Louise said.

Louise and her fiance Chris Skelley MBE PLY recently supported fellow Wiltshire Air Ambulance ambassador Nick Mason, the musician and former drummer with iconic band Pink Floyd, at his annual Open Garden Event. Nick and his wife Annette, open up their gardens at Middlewick House in North Wiltshire to raise money for charity – including Wiltshire Air Ambulance. Nick also shows off some of his famous classic cars at the event as he’s a motor racing enthusiast. (July 30 and 31)

“It was a fabulous day and the weather was gorgeous,” Louise said. “It was a real privilege to be able to spend time with Nick and Annette in their own ‘back yard’ and what a back yard! We loved the cars and we’re all so grateful to those who came along and helped raised thousands for charity.”

Wiltshire Air Ambulance was  launched in 1990 and attends around three calls a day. As an ambassador, Louise spreads awareness about the Wiltshire Air Ambulance in local schools and in her daily life to help them raise the funds to keep their helicopter in the air.

Louise Hunt was born with spina bifida, meaning she has been a wheelchair user from childhood. She’s not let that define her. She’s became an elite athlete, was an accomplished road racer in her wheelchair yet later specialised in tennis which she found more mentally challenging. 

She went on to amass more than 100 titles for professional tennis and was ranked number 10 in the world for wheelchair tennis at the height of her competitive career. Today she’s a motivational speaker, diversity and disability consultant for businesses and brands and an activist around disability issues. For more information about Louise visit http://www.louisehunt.co.uk