RESIDENTS in Bude are being urged to do their bit to help raise funds for an emergency service which has saved the lives of those within their community.

Cornwall Air Ambulance is encouraging people to step forward and sign up for their brand-new Heli Hike walking event which is set to come to the coastal town at the end of April.

The Bude event will be of particular significance after a 15-year-old from the town was rescued by the air ambulance. Lewie Cole, now 17, was saved two years ago after he fell 35 feet off a cliff into a rocky cove below. Lewie will be taking part in the event along with his twin brother Logan who made the call to 999 at the time of the incident.

The Heli Hike, planned for April 25, offers two routes to choose from, both of which will include scenic sights along the south west coastal path, through farm fields and along the canal.

The full route is an impressive 12-mile circuit starting and ending at Bude Castle. The length of the challenge represents an average flight time of 12 minutes to incidents tasked to Cornwall Air Ambulance. A shorter second route of 3.5 miles starts at Widemouth Bay Beach and also ends at Bude Castle.

The event is family friendly and is suitable for all ages. Dogs are also welcome to join the walk providing they are always kept on leads.

Registrations to cover the running of the event cost £15 for adults and £10 for children, with those aged under five able to attend for free.

Karen Hurn, head of fundraising and philanthropy at Cornwall Air Ambulance, said: “We are incredibly excited to be launching our first ever Heli Hike – an event where literally every single step taken is helping to save lives right across our region.

“Whichever of our two routes you choose to take, your involvement will help us continue to provide critical care to patients like Lewie and ensure that together, we can be there for someone’s tomorrow. It’s going to be a brilliant day in Bude and we can’t wait to see everyone there.”

Last year, following the generous support for the Heli2 Appeal, Cornwall Air Ambulance secured a second AW169 helicopter for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. This has increased availability significantly and now means that weather-permitting, a helicopter is always ready to respond, including during times of repair or service.

There is now also a doctor on board nearly all daytime missions, working alongside highly skilled critical care paramedics, ensuring patients can benefit from a full range of critical care skills.

Cornwall Air Ambulance is the UK’s first air ambulance service, with 2027 marking its 40th anniversary. The charity receives no direct government funding towards running costs and needs to raise £9-million a year to keep the lifesaving service running. Therefore, the generosity of the people of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and their support for events such as Heli Hike are fundamental.