A TEAM of cyclists took on a sponsored bike ride in aid of the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) after the charity saved the life of a teenager involved in a tragic car collision.
The cyclists from south and west Cumbria travelled 135 miles on a round trip to Penrith from Millom, the hometown of Ellis Marr, 18.
Ellis survived a horrific car collision which killed her friends Skye Mitchell and Caitlin Huddleston on July 14.
The teenagers were travelling from Millom to Gosforth to have a meal out with their friends when the vehicle they were in collided with a van on the A595 road, near Bootle.
Ellis was in a critical condition and was treated on scene by North West Ambulance Service paramedics and the GNAAS doctor-led trauma team. She was then airlifted by the charity to Royal Preston Hospital, where she is still recovering.
Ellis broke the right side of her pelvis, had a lower right leg compound fracture, a broken tibia, fibula and lower back sacrum bone. She also had bruised ribs and a brain injury.
Ellis’ auntie, Leanne Cummings, 43 said: “Ellis remains in hospital where she was airlifted but has progressed from critical care through various units and currently is in the Neurological Rehabilitation Unit where she is receiving excellent care in terms of physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and sessions with the psychologist.
“Without GNAAS I am certain that Ellis wouldn’t be here today. We’re just so grateful for what they have done for us and can’t emphasise enough how vital this service is to us all.”
Ellis’ family collected her A Level results on her behalf which revealed she had achieved the grades needed to secure a Higher Apprenticeship at Sellafield Ltd, which has been deferred until September 2018.
Ellis’ uncle Louis Cummings, 41, who took part in the bike ride, said: “We hope that Ellis will be able to take up the apprenticeship offer next year, as she’s progressing really well and going from strength to strength. She still has a long way to go but she continues to amaze us with her recovery.”
Andrew Barrington, GNAAS doctor said: “Ellis had a very difficult and prolonged extrication after which she was immediately anaesthetised to provide some stability and protect her brain from further injury. She’s very much in the category of ‘unexpected survivors’ so we are absolutely delighted to see her doing so well in her recovery.
“We’d like to invite Ellis along to our airbase when she’s ready, it would be great to see her.”
Money is still coming in from the sponsored bike ride and at the moment it stands at around £6,000.
Mr Cummings works for National Nuclear Laboratories and they have agreed to match the funding pound for pound.
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