Ethan and Oscar saddle up to raise £2,000 for Northamptonshire's air ambulance in memory of dad Shaun

Meet Ethan and Oscar, two brothers from who cycled 26 miles to raise cash for the local air ambulance in memory of their loving dad.

Shaun Taylor collapsed after suffering a major heart trauma at his family home in Cold Ashby back in May last year.

Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance medics were quickly on scene and did everything they could, but could not save the 26-year-old manager of a performance auto parts dealers in Blisworth.

Grateful for the support of the charity service, Shaun’s wife Vickie and sons their two boys held a fun day in his memory last year, raising an amazing £4,000 for the WNAA.

They planned to hold another one this year, but Covid-19 put everything on hold.

Instead, Ethan, 5, and six-year-old Oscar decided to take on the impressive fundraising challenge of getting on their bikes and cycling 26 miles — one mile for every year on their dad's life — over seven days raising £2,000 in the process.

The started started their mission in what should have been sunny August — yet still had to battle unseasonally cold and wind to finish the final leg over the Bank Holiday weekend at Daventry Country Park.

Mum Vickie said: “Every time I think about how well the boys have done, I well up.

"They make me so proud every day, but this bike ride has really shown me what incredible, determined and kind-hearted young boys they are, just like their dad.

“I never dreamed they would raise over £2,000! And they consciously know why and how they are helping people which makes it even more amazing.

"I have no doubt that their daddy would have been sat on a cloud, cheering them on and telling them all up there ‘see them boys, they are my boys,’ with the biggest smile on his face.”

Irene Wayness, from the WNAA, said: “It has been a privilege to have met the Taylor family last year and now again to cheer the incredible boys over the finishing line of their challenge!

“Last year Vickie expressed her sincere thanks to the crew who were amazing when Shaun needed them, and the charity are so grateful for the continued support the Taylor family have given.

"I feel extremely proud to be able to help families like Vickie’s on their air ambulance journey.”

The Air Ambulance Service is the umbrella organisation for the Children’s Air Ambulance — a national transfer service for seriously ill children and babies — plus two local air ambulances covering Warwickshire & Northamptonshire and Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland.

It uses state-of-the-art AgustaWestland 109 helicopters to carry medics to provide advanced treatment at the scene of emergencies quicker than would often be possible using land transport.

The charity carries out around 1,800 missions a year — each costing approximately £1,700.

To support Ethan and Oscar and boys on their great achievement, please visit: https://in-memory.theairambulanceservice.org.uk/tribute/shaun-taylor-210 or, for more information on the WNAA click www.theairambulanceservice.org.uk or call 0300 3045 999.