A Minnis Bay dad-of-two, alongside eight family and friends, has completed a 67 mile walk in 24 hours to raise funds for the Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS).
Andy Constable, 58, suffered major injuries after falling from a roof in September 2021 and says he owes his life to the air ambulance charity.
Andy had to learn to walk again and adapt how he used his left hand after breaking 23 bones – five places in his back , two in his femur, his hip and pelvis and all the ribs on his left side – as well as puncturing his lung and losing his wedding ring finger.
In 2024 Andy completed a three day costal walk, raising some £5000 for the charity, and this time he and the other eight walkers have brought in a whopping amount of just under £15,000.
The money will support the KSS team and help with the costs of flying future patients to serious trauma hospitals.
Andy, who is a builder, had been working as a volunteer at Margate Football Club when he fell from a roof he’d been working on and was taken first to QEQM Hospital and then KSS transferred him to King’s College.
At King’s Andy went into surgery for more than nine hours and had to have metal rods and a dynamic hip screw from his femur through to his pelvis.
There was then a long road to recovery with further treatment and therapy spanning some three years.
Andy and wife Wendy often travel to the KSS centre in Rochester to help with writing out thank you cards and Andy pledged to raise money for the charity, which relies on public donations.
The latest challenge of walking 67 miles was to mirror the mileage of his KSS flight.
The gang of nine set off from Kings Hospital London at noon on Friday, reaching Minnis Bay at midday on Saturday.
Andy said: “The nine of us on our journey created an incredible family bond through a very gruelling physical and mental challenge which none of us will forget ever.
“Not one of us said I can’t do this as we couldn’t let any other member down and that’s what pushed us on. We crossed that finish line together with the help of every other person who was involved from start to finish.
“The staff of KSS drove us on with the messages of support and the voice messages I had from the paramedics and doctors were heartwarming and delivered a punch that inspired us even more.”
The nine also thanked families and everyone who donated to the fundraiser which Andy says will be used to “save people who might not make it without the Angels of the airways doing what they do.”
