Let’s Help Dan in his Latest Challenge

I was totally shocked to hear the news that legendary Earthmovers Magazine contributor, and long-time charity fund raising marathon runner Dan Gilkes, had suffered a cardiac arrest earlier this year, thankfully he is well on the way to a full recovery now, and true to form he is planning to carry on his fund-raising activities this time for the East Anglian Air Ambulance service, members of whom saved his life!

Dan takes up the story, “On August 19, I suffered a Sudden Cardiac Arrest in my sleep. While Mel carried out CPR, thanks to the man on the 999 phone line, the first paramedic to arrive was Joe Dowsing, of East Anglian Air Ambulance. He wasn't in a helicopter, but in one of their 4x4 rapid response cars. Along with the other ambulance crews that arrived at around 4am, they shocked and brought me back three times, saving my life again and again.

I was training for the London Marathon, but of course that came to an end. I can currently walk into town and back with the dog, for which I am eternally grateful. The docs at Papworth say I will be able to run again though, after a few months, so hopefully I will get around this challenge, either walking or running, throughout November.

If you can, please support me as I take on this challenge for East Anglian Air Ambulance. The target is to run 50 miles in November to help support EAAA's life-saving work. Your contribution will make an impact, whether you donate £5 or £500, every little bit helps. Thank you for your support”.

You can make a donation for Dan’s chosen charity by following this link to his Facebook charity page.

On a personal note, Dan Gilkes is journalist who I have looked up to ever since I started reading Earthmovers when it first came out in 2004, his articles are always informative, in-depth and technically detailed, he is the real deal!

Equally his efforts to run and raise money for his chosen charities over the years have been inspirational, as such I was delighted to be able to donate to this latest challenge, which I’m sure will be an emotional experience for him too, I encourage everyone to get behind Dan on this one, and I wish him all the very best with it.