10/03/2026
Nicola’s story: “Thank you for keeping us together”
Nicola’s story: “Thank you for keeping us together”
It was a normal Sunday afternoon in the run-up to Christmas, 38-year-old Nicola had spent it with her family, when without warning, she suffered a cardiac arrest.
There had been no signs, no chest pain or shortness of breath, Nicola was fit and active. One moment she was chatting to her partner Ben, the next she collapsed.
Ben immediately began CPR, a passer-by and an off-duty firefighter stopped to help. Then an ambulance crew arrived, followed quickly by the North West Air Ambulance Charity (NWAA).
“For me, when the NWAA crew arrived, it was a sign of relief,” Ben said. “Within 30 seconds of them being there, they took control.”
The charity’s critical care paramedics delivered advanced, lifesaving treatment at scene. Soon after, Ben heard the words he had been desperately hoping for: Nicola’s heart had started beating again, she'd started breathing on her own.
Today, Nicola is back with her family. “Thank you for keeping us together,” she said. “Thank you for saving me, because now I can watch Emily, my daughter grow up.”
NWAA are fully funded by public donations, they couldn’t be there without your support. 💙
Running the Liverpool Half Marathon or 10 Mile?
If you’re not already running for a charity, why not turn your training and race day effort into something truly lifesaving for people across the North West?
Join Team NWAA for your FREE chance to WIN a £200 Amazon Gift Card!
North West Air Ambulance Charity (NWAA) is the Official Charity Partner of this year’s event, and we’d love you to be part of our team.
How to enter the prize draw:
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Set up a fundraising page for NWAA by clicking the link here
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Receive at least one donation on your page
Email your JustGiving page link to events@nwairambulance.org.uk and let us know you’ve chosen to support NWAA
That’s it — you’ll be automatically entered!
Once your page is live and you’ve received your first donation, you’re in the draw to win a £200 Amazon gift card.
There’s no minimum fundraising target — just raise what you can to help keep our helicopters flying and our critical care cars responding to the most seriously ill and injured patients across our region. We receive no government or NHS funding, so we rely entirely on incredible supporters like you!
Why join Team NWAA?
When you join us, you’ll also receive:
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An official Team NWAA running top for race day
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Cheer stations along the route bringing the Team NWAA buzz
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Access to our NWAA tent at the finish, including a postrace sports massage
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Dedicated support from our fundraising team every step of the way
You won’t just be running — you’ll be part of a team making a real difference.
Already supporting NWAA?
If you’ve set up your fundraising page and received your first donation — you’re already in the draw. Thank you so much for being part of Team NWAA!
If your page is live but you haven’t had that first donation yet, now’s the perfect time to share it with friends, family and colleagues to secure your entry.Terms & Conditions
Full competition details and T&Cs can be found here
By joining Team NWAA, you’ll be making a real difference in your local community — and we’ll be cheering you on every step of the way.
If you have any questions, our friendly team would love to help at fundraising@nwairambulance.org.uk.
Good luck with your training — we hope to welcome you to Team NWAA soon!
Best wishes,
The NWAA Fundraising Team -
