A Journey of Hope and Resilience

Welcome to the fundraising page for Simon Clark - named the ‘most broken patient’ the Great Western Air Ambulance crew has ever seen, and living proof of the incredible power of sheer determination and unwavering resilience.

 

In October 2019, Simon's life changed forever. In the blink of an eye a catastrophic head-on road traffic collision left him with the most horrific injuries, and tragically took the life of Lindy, his long term partner of over 22 years. 

 

Simon’s extensive injuries included punctured lungs, a two inch hole in his aorta, a damaged heart, brain injuries, the rupturing of most internal organs, and various broken bones including the majority of his ribs, breastbone, hips, pelvis (being shattered into twenty-five pieces), and three shattered vertebrae in the top of his spine which effectively decapitated him, leaving his neck attached to his body purely by muscle and skin alone.

 

Simon woke from a coma some two and a half months later, in Southmead Hospital in Bristol, to learn he was paralysed from the neck down and would never walk again. In fact, he would - according to medics - rely on life support in a hospital bed for the rest of his life - he would not walk, talk, eat or even breathe for himself again.

 

Given the extent of his injuries, it was a medical miracle that Simon had survived the accident at all, but he wasn’t expected to live more than a couple of years. Defying all odds, Simon made a truly miraculous recovery, and just six months from the day of the accident, he walked out of the hospital. Five years on, Simon has significantly outlived his bleak prognosis and is doing all of the things he was told he’d never do. And now he’s a man on a mission - to give back, and to inspire others.

 

Simon is dedicated to raising vital funds for the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity, the service who attended his accident that day and played a crucial role in saving his life. His goal is to raise £4.5million - the equivalent of just ONE YEAR of operating costs for them.

 

The Latest Challenge: A trek to Mount Everest Base Camp.

 

As a testament to his resilience and determination, Simon, who was told he would never leave a hospital bed or walk again, is preparing to trek to Mount Everest Base Camp - proving that with the right mindset, absolutely anything is achievable. But although Everest is on the horizon, Simon is setting his sights much higher!

 

Having already completed a ten day hike in Iceland, this trek to base camp is the second in a long line of increasingly difficult challenges he’s aiming to embark on in order to raise the ridiculously large sum of money needed. And Simon intends to take on the most gruelling physical challenges he can find. Why? To inspire and motivate others to overcome their own obstacles, whilst shining a much needed spotlight on the critical work of all Air Ambulance services.

 

Simon’s journey isn’t about personal triumph - he’s such a huge inspiration to us all but he’s also one of the most humble men you will ever meet - to him it’s all about making a difference. By tackling these extraordinary feats, he aims to grow the digital footprint of the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity, raising widespread awareness and support for their life-saving missions.

 

Simon travelled to Kathmandu on Monday 9th September to tend to final preparations before commencing his trek on Saturday 14th September 2024, and he hopes to be safely back on English soil in approximately one month - ready to plan his next big challenge!

 

Together, we can make a difference. So please donate now, do check back for updates, and thank you for your generosity and support