STUDENT paramedic Kate Jackson is taking part in Bath’s half marathon on Sunday (march 1) to raise money for a new air ambulance.

Kate is currently working at Bridport Ambulance Station and is hoping to become a critical care paramedic in the future.

A total of 60 people are raising funds for Wiltshire Air Ambulance’s new Bell 429 helicopter - the first such to operate as an air ambulance in the UK. It has a top speed of 156 knots (180 mph).

It took to the skies in January for the first time.

The charity has filled its allocation of 50 places in the Bath Half Marathon but more people have signed up independently to run for WAA.

Kate is one of a group of 13 student paramedics at the University of the West of England in Bristol taking part.

She said: “Many of us have come across Wiltshire Air Ambulance crews and some of us are hoping to become Critical Care paramedics in the future.”

Dylan Jones, 21, of Lechlade, Gloucestershire, who was airlifted by WAA in 2012 after suffering catastrophic injuries in a road traffic collision, is taking part again along with about 20 family and friends.

Dylan’s father, Chris Jones, said: “Wiltshire Air Ambulance saved Dylan’s life and we want to raise money for this wonderful charity and do our bit to keep the air ambulance flying.”

Rebecca de la Bedoyere, fundraising manager at WAA, said: “We have a team of 60 runners taking part in this year’s Bath Half Marathon, which is a fantastic number and will help create a brilliant team spirit on the day. Our runners have been training hard and fundraising hard to ensure the Bath Half is a success for them and for us and we’re so grateful to them for their dedication and commitment.

“Our team members are taking part for a variety of reasons. Some of them have a personal connection with the charity, having needed our help for themselves or a loved one. Others are working or training to be in the medical profession and can see how important an air ambulance service is and others simply want to push themselves to the limit and make a difference in doing so.

“Collectively, we’re hoping to raise at least £10,000 in sponsorship and, even if you don’t know any of the runners taking part, you can still sponsor the team and help raise vital funds for our life-saving work by donating via our Just Giving team page justgiving.com/teams/waabathhalf2015.”

From January 2015 it will cost £2.5 million a year to keep the air ambulance flying, that’s £6,850 per day.