London Ambulance teams pull 14-tonne truck in huge show of strength for charity

Teams from London Ambulance Service and other emergency services raised over £5,000 pulling heavy trucks over two miles from Welling to Bexleyheath in south-east London.

The Bexleyheath Uniformed Services Day Truck Pull is an annual fundraising event where teams of ambulance crews, police officers, firefighters and soldiers join together to tow six giant trucks to raise funds for their charities. The London Ambulance team towed a 14-tonne tipper truck.

The groups raised £5,432, which will be split between six charities, including London Ambulance Charity.

Money raised will directly fund life-saving training for Londoners, defibrillators for local communities and wellbeing support for frontline crews at London Ambulance Service.

Craig Henty, Head of London Ambulance Service’s Historic Collection, said:

“The day was incredibly fun for everyone who turned out to support our amazing truck pull team, the London Ambulance Charity and our historic collection.

“One of the highlights of the day was seeing long queues of children and families eager to step inside our 91-year-old Talbot ambulance and compare it with its modern-day counterpart.

“The opportunity to experience both vehicles side by side brought our history to life and demonstrated just how far ambulance care has evolved over the decades.

“The event allowed us to celebrate our heritage, connect with the community, inspire future recruits, and share vital lifesaving skills with the public.”

At the event, the Service’s London Lifesavers team trained over 150 Londoners in CPR skills so communities know what to do when someone suffers a cardiac arrest – a life-threatening emergency where the heart stops pumping blood around the body.

Samantha Palfreyman-Jones, Head of Community Resuscitation at London Ambulance Service, said:

“Every second counts when someone suffers a cardiac arrest. It’s vital that bystanders step in as quickly as possible by performing chest compressions and using a defibrillator.

“This will give people the very best chance of survival while one of our ambulance crews are on the way.

“Londoners can help by learning these easy skills at one of our pop-up events and helping us install defibrillators in the London communities that need them most as part of our Heart Starters campaign.”

Volunteers from across the Service engaged with the local community on the Service’s rich heritage and the wealth of career opportunities available.

London Ambulance’s Historic Collection also put on an impressive display of nine vehicles – both historic and modern – showcasing the Service’s history which spans over century.

Everyone who visited the LAS display received a commemorative sticker, while younger visitors were delighted to take home a “Make Your Own Ambulance” activity kit.

If you would like to help support the London Ambulance Charity, why not take on a fundraising challenge? Join the London to Brighton Cycle Ride on 13 September and the next London Life Hike on 26 September to raise money for this vital cause.