Alanna, 6, is set to walk 16.6 miles from her home in Lee-on-the-Solent to University Hospital Southampton (UHS), in a bid to raise vital funds for her favourite charity, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.
On 27 October, Alanna will be joined by her mum and dad as they leave the family home at 7am making her way through: Stubbington, Titchfield, Parkgate, Bursledon, Bitterne and Portswood before arriving at her final stop approximately 8 hours after she set off.
Alanna has been captivated by the life-saving charity since she was given a tour of the yellow and green helicopter by Pilot Captain Dave Nicholls when it had to land near her grandma’s house.
Alanna said:
“It was so amazing being shown around the helicopter by Captain Dave. Since then, I have wanted to raise more and more money to help the paramedics and doctors get to people and save lives.
“They might be going to your mummy, daddy, aunties, uncles, brothers, sisters or even your best friends. They are there when we need then every single day, even Christmas day!
“I will probably be quite tired after my walk, but I know I will feel really happy about helping the air ambulance and the people who need it. I just want to raise as much money as I can to help them to save people’s lives.”
Captain Dave Nicholls said:
“When I meet people after we have landed, they often talk about how much they appreciate what the air ambulance team do. I always make sure to tell them that the air ambulance team is so much bigger than just the people who fly on the helicopter. Without people like Alanna who raise money so that we can fly a medical team to people who need it, we couldn’t do what we do.
“Having met Alanna a number of times, I know what an awesome person she is, and I am sure she will put all of her effort into doing this for the Air Ambulance.”
Alanna has already stomped past her target of £300 for her most recent challenge, raising £755.
Her passion for the charity has already seen her raise more than £1,200 through a 13-mile walk in May this year and a jumble sale on her front lawn in June 2021.
As well as local people and businesses in the community, Alanna has garnered support from her local MP, Caroline Dinenage.
Alanna is walking from Lee-on-the-Solent to Southampton General Hospital @UHSFT to raise money for @HIOWAA.
She has already raised over £1264 through other charitable activities. At 6 years old, this is an incredible achievement, well done Alanna!https://t.co/iDGNfbNxcG
— Caroline Dinenage (@cj_dinenage) October 10, 2022
To support Alanna on her walk, please visit her JustGiving page.
