Spalding PC Sarah Draper to go on 100km Sahara Desert Trek in aid of Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance

A Spalding police officer is taking on a very different case in the North African desert for charity.

Sarah Draper (34) has signed up for the five-day, 100km (62 miles) Sahara Desert Trek this autumn to raise at least £750 for Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance.

The trek will see Sarah, a police constable based at Spalding CID, fly to Marrakech, Morocco, at the end of September when she will join a group facing average temperatures of 70 degrees fahrenheit (21 degrees celsius).

Sarah said: “I saw the trek advertised at work last October and immediately signed up for the challenge which basically consists of walking in the desert during the day and then camping in tents at night.

“Through my work with the emergency services in Lincolnshire, I feel that I have a community connection with Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance, having seen these guys in action countless times, saving lives and providing emergency treatment to those in the most urgent need.”

Sarah had first-hand experience of the expertise provided by air ambulance staff in September 2011 when she was injured in a cycling accident whilst on holiday in Derbyshire.

She said: “I was airlifted to hospital by Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance after falling on my head which caused my helmet to split apart.

“At first, it was feared that I had suffered a serious head or neck injury, as well as possible internal injuries.

“Thankfully, I got away with a shoulder break and concussion and made a full recovery.

“The care I received from the air ambulance was outstanding and all the crew were brilliant with me, calm, reassuring and patient as I was very apprehensive initially about flying in the ambucopter.”

Sarah is confident of raising at least £750 for Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance.

She said: “I’m well on the way to meeting the target through donations and fundraising events.

“I’ve never done anything like this trek before so it’s a bit daunting.

“But I know it will be an experience of a lifetime.”

To sponsor Sarah, go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Sarah-Draper11