Back in early March we ran a story about Mike Barratt of Mike Barratt Consulting (and previously at Mattel and Lego) promising to run the London Marathon in gratitude to and raise funds for Great Western Air Ambulance after his daughter, Izzy, was rescued when she was crushed by her horse in a fall while eventing. 

And now he has.

As he said after last weekend’s London Marathon: “Bloody hot day in London but finished – happy with my time considering I had to speedwalk due to knee surgery – 6.58 hours my wife, Sue, also finished – an hour faster and with a sprained ankle!

“It was so hot that I passed out  after the race and was taken to Chelsea and Westminster hospital. After some some IV saline fluid I was right as rain again – good job it was 45 minute after the finish and not before.” 

Here’s Mike’s original promise to take you back to Izzy’s equine accident and the Air Ambulance rescue – 

“A lot of my toy trade colleagues know how the Great Western Air ambulance helped save the life of our daughter Izzy after an horrific fall whilst eventing her horse 3 years ago. She was crushed by her horse and suffered brain damage and a collapsed lung.

“A lot of my toy trade colleagues know how the Great Western Air ambulance helped save the life of our daughter Izzy after an horrific fall whilst eventing her horse 3 years ago”

The helicopter’s prompt arrival, highly qualified staff (we had a consultant on the helicopter that day) and swift extraction to Bristol hospital was literally a life saver. And today Izzy is a fully recovered confident young lady – but it could have been very different.

We drove to Bristol following the helicopter and it took a long time – maybe too long for Izzy to make it and we will never be able to thank them enough.

I am going to try to raise money to keep the Helicopter flying and helping other people by running the London Marathon in 2025. I was amazed to learn that these helicopters are a charity – 100% funded by donations and no government help; so raising money to help them keep flying is vital.

I am not a runner, never have been – hate it with all my heart – but feel compelled to push myself to do something worthwhile for the air ambulance team in return. I started training before Christmas and was doing ok. Nut then at about 6 miles I had a severe knee pain – it’s been injected and treated but isn’t right and I undergo an operation this week on March 6 to remove cartilage which is causing the issue.

I have been practicing ‘speedwalking,’ which doesn’t hurt due to low impact and believe if I have to do this all the way round I can hit 6 hours – if the knee is recovered hopefully a lot less but I will finish even if I have to crawl !!

Support anyone can give would be fantastic for such an amazing cause that you really don’t appreciate until unfortunately you need it – and it really is a life saver.

The image is of Izzy with the consultant who saved her. Oh, and the helicopter.  

Thank you.”

Fancy supporting? 

https://www.justgiving.com/page/mike-barratt-1727690221857 – great western Air ambulance