A Penrith woman had to be airlifted twice in a year by the Great North Air Ambulance following two bike crashes.
Sarah Sugden, 42, was riding with friends near Keswick when she hit a sinkhole and was thrown from her bike.
She fractured her ribs, lacerated her spleen, had a brain injury and suffered an arterial bleed.
The Great North Air Ambulance flew her to the Royal Preston Hospital for treatment.
It took the mother-of-two six months to recover from the incident, and in September 2018 she swam the full length of Ullswater to raise funds for GNAAS.
But less than three weeks later, Sarah was involved in a collision with a bus while cycling down Kirkstone Pass.
The air ambulance flew her to the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle, where she spent seven days recovering.
She said: “I knew I’d broken my collarbone, but I thought I was all right. I didn’t realise I’d totally annihilated my spleen and I ended up having life-saving surgery to remove it. I was in a bad way but I am really lucky to still be here.”
Ever since, Sarah has carried out several fundraising activities for GNAAS including organising triathlon events and last month, she took the plunge and swam Ullswater again, however she decided to switch it up by swapping her wetsuit for a bathing suit, also known as skins.
She said: “I had to keep telling myself to enjoy it you can’t be competitive, and you’ve not got your wetsuit on.
“I’m pleased I did it in skins as now I never have to do it again.”
She completed the swim in just over five hours and has since challenged herself to swim all the lakes in the Lake District and has set up a JustGiving page to support the air ambulance.
She said: “I wouldn’t be here without their help, as is the case for many people in the area, who without their quick service there would be much more severe consequences due to the rural areas we live in.”
To support Sarah, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/samantha-sugden3
