
GWAAC called to almost 300 more people in a record-breaking 2024
January 3, 2025
Swimming the length of the English Channel for GWAAC
January 30, 202527-year-old Aaron Close from Keynsham, is training to take on a mammoth run from Westminster, London, to The New Inn, Keynsham — a total of 150 miles over 72 hours. He will be running alongside friends Robbie Dury and Joel Milhofer, who have run with Aaron before in previous marathons and ultramarathons, and will be helping to push him along on this journey. Matthew Simmonds, another close friend of Aaron, will be right alongside the team via vehicle, helping to both document the journey and keep the team hydrated and healthy, all in aid of us, Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC).
The four of them are hoping to raise money for GWAAC, which they hold close to their hearts, after our crew came to the aid of best friend Luke following a tragic incident in 2018. Sadly, despite our specialist crew doing everything they could to save him, Aaron & Matthew lost their best friend on 15 March of that year.
The friends and family of Luke have raised a grand total of £27,161.25 and counting since the day of Luke’s passing in 2018. His parents and sister Holly decided to donate every penny to GWAAC in honour of Luke. The plan is to reach £30,000 by Luke’s 30th birthday on 3 May 2025.
Ever since the tragic accident, Aaron alongside other friends and family of Luke, has organised various fundraisers to help support GWAAC in Luke’s name. They have been supporting their local air ambulance charity as a thank you for trying to save him and to help people who may need to call upon our lifesaving service in the future.
The friends have chosen a poignant time of year for their run; they will be pounding the pavements from 12 to 14 March 2025 to coincide with the seven-year anniversary of Luke’s passing. All the money raised will go towards keeping GWAAC operational across Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire, North Somerset, and parts of Wiltshire.
Aaron knows it will be tough but he is determined. He says, “The Great Western Air Ambulance Charity is such a vital service, and yet they receive no day-to-day funding from the Government or National Lottery. I’m looking forward to raising as much money as possible in honour of my friend Luke and to help anyone going forward who may need GWAAC’s help.”
Charlie Rowen, Events Manager at GWAAC, said: “We’re so grateful to Aaron and all of Luke’s family and friends for their generosity, support and dedication in taking on so many challenges to raise money for our service. We rely on the people we serve to help us raise over £4 million each year to stay operational. The money raised will help us to provide critical care to those who need it the most – saving more lives.”
The four of them have already raised over £3,500 ahead of their challenge. You can support them here.

Aaron and the team after a previous challenge