17 Sep 2024
Tom Leung – an architect in London, who back in 2006 led the team that designed our helipad atop The Royal London Hospital – has walked over half a marathon for London’s Air Ambulance Charity and raised nearly £4,500.
“I first became aware of London’s Air Ambulance Charity when I visited the old helipad which was on top of a five-storey-high dental hospital in Whitechapel and met the then Medical Director Dr Gareth Davies,” said Tom.
“We discussed the requirements of the new helipad and how it would be built on top of the new 17-storey-high hospital in Whitechapel.”
Now recently retired, Tom was reminiscing over his helipad designs and was inspired to do something more.
“It was a project that I have fond memories of, a memorable journey. So, I thought it would be amazing to now, in this different time of my life, do something for the charity itself – do something to ensure that London’s Air Ambulance is flying and the helipad keeps being used!”
A keen walker already, Tom rallied his wife and friends and planned a route around London that the 10 of them could walk as a fundraising event.
“We started in Putney Bridge in West London, followed the Thames Path east and walked past famous London landmarks including the Battersea Power Station, MI6 Headquarters, the Covid Memorial Wall, the London Eye, the Southbank theatres, the Tate Modern, the Millenium Bridge, Borough Market, HMS Belfast, the London Assembly, Tower Bridge, St Katherine Docks, Shadwell Basin and Brick Lane. Of course, we passed The Royal London Hospital so I could show my friends the helipad, and we ended in Liverpool Street.”
Overall, they walked 16 miles in seven hours, and so far have raised £4,467.
“Back then, I didn’t realise the service was a charity – now I’m aware of how reliant it is on public funding. It feels great to have done our little bit to support this amazing life-saving service for London.”
Tom’s incredible fundraising efforts have raised enough to cover over two whole missions. We’re dispatched on average five times a day, but as a charity we’re reliant on public support to operate. We need Londoners to support us and keep us flying for years to come. Could you organise a fundraising event to help us keep saving lives?
If you have any questions, please get in touch at [email protected].