Louise Thornton-Dowling

I'm taking on 160 miles in March

I'm taking on 40, 80, or 160 miles this March!

40 miles matches the average distance that the Thames Valley Air Ambulance helicopter flies to reach an emergency. The challenge is to walk, run, swim, cycle or wheel my way to 40, 80, or 160 miles, while helping Thames Valley Air Ambulance crews be there for people when they need them the most. TVAA are not government or lottery funded, and rely on the generosity of the community, like you, to provide the best critical care at the scene and beyond. Thank you for your support!

Select amount to donate

£18

£27

£49

£80

Donate

All payments are secure & encrypted

Personal Donation Company Donation

First Name*

Last Name*

Email Address*

Postal Address

Address Line 1 *

Address Line 2

Town/City *

Postcode *

County

Country *

Leave a Message (Optional)

Name to appear on page (Optional)

I'd like to remain anonymous to the fundraiser

All payments are secure & encrypted

Credit Card

Cover platform costs

Total amount

YES - I WOULD LIKE TO GIFT AID MY DONATION
I am a UK taxpayer and would like Thames Valley Air Ambulance to claim Gift Aid on my donation and any donations I make in the future or that I have made in the past four years, until I notify you otherwise. I understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all of my donations in that tax year, it is my responsibility to pay any difference.
Thames Valley Air Ambulance will reclaim 25p on every £1 donated. Thank you.

All payments are secure & encrypted

My Achievements

Shared Page

50% of distance travelled

Updated Profile Pic

50% of Fundraising Target

Reached Goal

Reached Distance Goal

My Updates

Final Post ♥️

Wednesday 2nd Apr

And it's complete ✅✅

Over 160 miles walked, in 31 days.

All for Thames Valley Air Ambulance

In memory of Peter Hugh Thornton 😇

I did it 😭 💪

Thank you, thank you, thank you 🙏

♥️

Day 31 part 2

Wednesday 2nd Apr

The final day... day 31 ✅

Only 1 mile to go... 🤦‍♀️🤣

Met a beautiful lady Yvonne on my walk today, along the canal. She walked a little with me. Introduced me to her partner and home (boat) and made me a gorgeous bean to cup coffee (black 2 sugars please)!

7.75 miles completed with my baby. Cydneys been with me for every mile!

I'm shattered and sore but proud of myself and hugely emotional.

A cheeky wine to celebrate and a childhood favourite, grapefruit juice and soda. Cheers dad, f-in love you ♥️🥂

Thank you to each and every person who has sponsored me. Messaged me. Supported me. Walked with me.

The words. The tears. The insane gratitude from the depths of my heart. Will not express how much this means to me, for so many reasons. Most of all giving back to those who gave us time with dad. And giving me the strength to keep going. To achieve something I didn't think I could!

#mission40

Thames Valley Air Ambulance

Day 31

Wednesday 2nd Apr

And we're off.... final day of #mission40 walking 160 miles this month for Thames Valley Air Ambulance

Day 29 & 30

Wednesday 2nd Apr

Days 29 & 30 ✅✅

We were away as a family overnight staying in a forest 🌳

So yesterday saw a very relaxed 3 miles killing around the forest. Steps only!

Then my phone, headphones and Fitbit died 🤦‍♀️ Must remember to charge these up for the mammoth walk tomorrow!

Today I marched up & down and up & down Ramptons Lane clocking up 4 miles. In glorious sunshine (in plastic Birkenstocks like an idiot) before the husband and 4/5 children awoke. Clearly a Mother's Day treat!

Only 9 miles to go... hoping to get another 2-4miles in today depending on timings/ plans etc and tomorrow will be roughly 7-8 miles 🤞🤞

The end is in sight and my hips will be most grateful to slow down!

Please donate if you can. If a third of my Facebook friends donated £1 each today we'd hit £2,250!

Thank you ♥️♥️♥️

(Privacy changed to public so you can share if you wish 🙏)

Day 27 & 28

Wednesday 2nd Apr

Days 27 & 28 ✅✅

Yesterday saw the same 5mile route as Wednesday but felt very different. Knackered. Annoyed. Frustrated. I'm learning to kick myself up the bum when I can't be bothered and lack motivation and just do it!

Today was englefield again and coffee with the Mother bear 🐻 after little Quinn's nursery rhyme time performance, which she very clearly didn't like doing!

It's payday... please donate if you can. Donations currently sit at £1,180... THANK YOU 🎉

Or if you own your own business or have an amazing boss, chat them up! Charity donations can be written off against your taxes! Better in Thames Valley Air Ambulance pocket than the governments! 👏

17 miles to go to hit 160 miles... nothing like leaving it til the last minute 🤪

Day 26 part 2

Wednesday 2nd Apr

Day 26 pt2 ✅

Meant to be a couple of miles but Cydney had other ideas! Home we go!

Day 25 & 26

Wednesday 2nd Apr

Day 24 & Day 25 ✅✅

Yesterday saw 6 miles in Reading in between and after appointments & collecting my ring that was in for repair.

If anyone is curious, a walk round the block around the hospital is only .75 miles!

Today currently sits at 'just over' 5 miles. Glorious walk with a friend T who joined me and a lovely coconut hot chocolate to reward myself 🤣 (any excuse!).

5 days left to walk. And a minimum 28 miles to walk to hit 160 miles.

#mission40

Thames Valley Air Ambulance

https://fundraise.tvairambulance.org.uk/fundraisers/louisethornton-dowling

Steps!

Wednesday 2nd Apr

Just to clarify... the reason my steps don't count properly but the distance does is because 9 times out of 10, my phone is in the carrycot on the pram, the rucksack on the pram or the fancy handlebar bag!

I've no idea why they seem to record differently depending on where they are but the distances are correct!

Thames Valley Air Ambulance

#mission40

Day 24

Monday 24th Mar

Day 24 ✅

The longest yet 🎉

Holy. Moly!!!!!!!!!!!!

With a short break for Cydneys vaccinations 😔 and flowers for dad 🙏

Days 22 & 23

Monday 24th Mar

Days... 22 & 23! ✅✅

Goodness me! These kids kill me at weekends! Their energy never falters and there's not a seconds rest!

Saturday saw a 2 mile loop around home and 2 miles with the kiddies at my new favourite place... Englefield Estate

Sunday was a mere 2 miles home loop and 3 miles on the treadmill. BORING 🤣🤣

I need to check my total on my fundraising page but I think I have some catching up to do. It's a week today until my final walk, which I'm planning on making 7.5 miles from home to Kintbury!

THANK YOU to everyone who has sponsored me. Currently sitting at £1,081 ♥️

PLEASE, if you haven't sponsored me, consider doing so. Every penny counts. Thames Valley Air Ambulance relies entirely on public donations and fundraising efforts.

https://fundraise.tvairambulance.org.uk/fundraisers/louisethornton-dowling

Days 20 & 21

Friday 21st Mar

Englefield today and what a bloody lovely walk!

Thank you to my new found friend A for joining me for some of the walk, a lovely coffee and a lot of chat 💕

I forgot to record some of this walk twice so I know it's over 5.5miles but we stick with the figures!

Yesterday was a 3miles (ish) greenham common loop and the 2mile (ish) loop near home. It's nice to have routes to just do when time is short, brain is tired,

baby is reflux & colicy and planning goes out the window.

Baby girl is 3 months today 🎉

A huge surprise to our already completed (we thought!) family. Conceived around dad's funeral, labouring on his birthday and born the day after. He'd have hated her having to share his birthday, he'd have wanted her to have her own special day ♥️

"Grief never lessens. You just learn to live with it."

"Life is not forever. Our love is."

Day 19

Friday 21st Mar

Day 19 ✅

Only 2 miles today, too dark to do more.

What a painful two miles, my hip and bum cheek is killing! It's been hurting all day, slowly getting worse. But worse at home doing nothing!

93.46miles completed ✅👏

66.54miles to go... 😩💪

3rd in the fundraising leaderboard 🥉

https://fundraise.tvairambulance.org.uk/fundraisers/louisethornton-dowling

Days 17 & 18

Tuesday 18th Mar

Days 17 & 18 ✅✅

Just over 3 miles round greenham common.

A 2 mile walk to the dentist.

2 mile loop near home.

And some treadmill.

Currently 8th on the leaderboard for distance. Some of the top people seem to very easily do marathons and epic rides etc so I definitely won't be finishing in the top handful (some have 399 miles this month 🤣) but I'm proud of where I have got to!

SECOND on the leaderboard for the donations raised. Although we have passed my target, if you can, please donate. If you own a business, donate and off seat it against your taxes! Where there's a will there's a way!

Thank you all again xx

https://fundraise.tvairambulance.org.uk/fundraisers/louisethornton-dowling

Day 16

Sunday 16th Mar

Day 16 ✅

Toughest walk yet. Lots of dodgy ground, hills and carrying a 13lb baby the whole way. But we did it... The Husband. Sister in Law. Brother in Law. Two pups 🐶 And the two biggest children that were warned, whinging would see them buried in the forest! They both loved it though 🎉

Thanks for joining me Julie Dowling ♥️

Plus making up another mile on the treadmill... whinge whine whinge 🤪

Day 15 walk

Saturday 15th Mar

Day 15 ✅

Duller than dish washer but at least it's done now!

Hoping to get out into the country tomorrow and on a gorgeous walk (with some additions) to two places I've been to only once with the husband before we were married.

He said the kids can come. I've very strongly declined after the trauma experienced walking miles with them at the beginning of the challenge. I'd like to end this challenge with my sanity... it's not looking likely currently 🤣🤣

Day 15

Saturday 15th Mar

Right kids.... Day 15 🎉

I've just been told by the Thames Valley Air Ambulance fundraising group that there are leaderboards for the #mission40 challenge you've all been supporting me with.

So I took a little look and I'm so happy 😁

I am 2nd on the 160 mile mission leaderboard and 5th on the overall fundraising board. Nothing like a little competition to fuel me!!!

The whole challenge has currently raised £14,000 and there are over 270 people on the #mission40 facebook group. And we are 5th so far on fundraising amounts.

So words are not enough but THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for getting me (us as a collective!) there.

If anyone wants to donate and doesn't want their name showing, make one up!

Every £1 is gratefully received. Every message of encouragement is spurring me on. Every one who joins me for a walk or a pit stop is amazing. Every lift home when I'm broken is literally a life saver!

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!! Xxxx

Day 14

Friday 14th Mar

Day 14 ✅

Definitely a good (and emotional) day 🎉

- I remembered to charge my phone last night 🥳

- I remembered for the first time to charge my headphones 🥳

- I found new 'running' shoes bought in the sale years ago in my wardrobe so on they went (what a difference they made!) after ruining 2 other pairs of trainers in 65 miles! 🥳

- I listened to my very first podcast 🥳

Longest walk I've done this challenge and.... I have hit my £750 target.

I don't say this often but I am bloody proud of myself!

From the bottom of my heart, thank you all for your support, messages, donations, joining me on walks, lifts home when I'm done, coffee along the way. I have never felt love or support like this in my life and I am beyond grateful 🙏🙏.

All for you dad and those that tried to save you ♥️♥️

Day 13

Friday 14th Mar

Day 13 ✅

3 miles from Thatcham to Woolhampton. Thanks for the lift Mum Carmel Thornton!

And laps of the place dad rests. Love you ♥️

#mission40

https://fundraise.tvairambulance.org.uk/fundraisers/louisethornton-dowling?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0BMQABHbqOxeSId4he0igu2aQ3hXvhehOCnNswi7lVLtNi0EbfLCHdS_qOpRZPwQ_aem_-bK2jH5AuisXbGnuc0fGtQ

Days 11 & 12

Wednesday 12th Mar

Days 11 & 12 ✅✅

Now... treadmills. Jesus Christ they are BORING!

The steps don't match the distance and I'm so bloody confused by it (it's new!) but have spent over 5 hours across the 2 days on it at an average speed of 4mph (holding onto the rail for dear life 🤪)

Looking at my Strava walks this works out at a MINIMUM of 12.5 miles.

I'll take that but bring on being out walking again!

£38 to target... please donate if you're able! Thank you xx

https://fundraise.tvairambulance.org.uk/fundraisers/louisethornton-dowling

Day 10

Tuesday 11th Mar

Day 10 ✅

4 miles in aldermaston today and a nice pub stop with another mum friend and baby!

Remembered around half way to start good old Strava! 🤦‍♀️

Over 47 miles in 10 days. Slightly short on the 5.5 miles a day target but I'm trying!

My hips hurt today and I think my legs are remembering there's muscles in them somewhere 🤪🤣

Day 7 & 8

Tuesday 11th Mar

Day 7 & 8 ✅✅

Totalling 13 miles 🎉

Including Dads anniversary 💔, an osteo appointment, a strapped back, a baby, a best friend and a pony 🐴

Greenham. Thatcham. Newbury. Bucklebury. Upper Bucklebury. And Fanny's Lane 🤣

Thank you for having us and joining us and being my tonic Jenny Abery Everything and nothing has changed! Love you 🥰

Day 6

Tuesday 11th Mar

Day 6 ✅

6.18 miles including 2 loops near the school 💪

Total = Over 30 miles in 6 days 🎉

Day 5

Thursday 6th Mar

Day 5 ✅

Only 1.5miles today as plans changed and I forgot to change my shoes before walking 🤣🤦‍♀️

Disappointing but we move!

Day 4

Tuesday 4th Mar

Day 4 ✅

Featuring a happy baby, a horse, a friend & her baby for some of it and an extra walk for the school run 🎉

5.23miles

Day 3

Monday 3rd Mar

Day 3 ✅

Featuring my t shirt that arrived, some glorious sunshine, a screaming baby, two feeds and the explosive nappy of the century.

And someone who forgot to record the return journey. 👏👏👏

6.8m

Day 2

Monday 3rd Mar

Day 2 ✅

Had to split the 5miles over 2 walks to fit in with other commitments.

Regretting taking the children this afternoon, most stressful walk ever! They won't be coming again!

ThaLisa RiceRice for keeping me sane ♥️

5.31m

#mission40

Day 1

Monday 3rd Mar

5.16m

Why I'm doing this...

Friday 21st Feb

I'm taking on 160 miles this March!

The month March marks a year since Dad fell ill and.... I still don't know how to say it!

Died is too final. Lost is like a cat! Passed, too wish washy. Left, makes it sound like he had a choice.

Anyway... on the 1st March it will be the day that the Air Ambulance team tried saving Dads life. Cydney will be 10 weeks old. And it's the start of the challenge.

So in for a penny in for a pound. I'm going to give everything I've got to walking 160 miles in March in honour of Dad. I haven't worked out in years. I was the unfittest and biggest I've ever been when Dad went. And although I'm a few pounds down, I haven't done much since having a baby weeks ago.

So to raise money for TVAA who did all the could for Dad and our family that night, I'm taking on my biggest physical challenge EVER!

I'd be most grateful for all your support. If you are able to financially donate ANY amount, please do! Or just keep me in your thoughts and prayers... the body is going to need them!

Louise Xx

Thank you to my Sponsors

£265

Mum Xxx

Well done!! Almost half way there, so proud of you,love you ,Mum xxxx

£106.50

Matt Dowling

You can do this gorgeous

£80

D Van Der Waag

So proud of you! Sending lots of love xxx

£53.32

Tracey & Graham

What a challenge, you're nearly there, well done.

£52.72

Wendy Yarwood

You got this!!! Lovely tribute to your dad.💕 Good Luck. Wendy and Steve Xxx

£52.19

Lloyd And Lexi Collis

Good Luck, what a way to honour Dad x

£50

Janette Wood

Thinking of your lovely family 💚. Jan and family

£50

Monica And Mike Corkhill

Well done Louise for taking on this big challenge for a great cause in honour of a great man 💪

£47.70

Karen Dowling

❤️ Well done Louise, you are doing great and almost half way. Love seeing all the fb posts. Love karen and John.❤️

£31.95

Gem Chaloner

Good luck!! Love Gem and Callum x

£31.95

Dave's Diva's

Good luck for a great cause, keep going we are all supporting you 💪🥰🚶‍♂️ xx

£30

Victoria Benjamin

You've got this ❤️

£26.63

Emma Fitzsimons

Lovely gesture Louise. Remembering your Dad always. You'll be amazing! Good luck!!

£25

Jen Abery

Proud of you gorgeous 😍 Xxx

£25

J Meehan

Go Louise! Proud of you, you've totally got this.

£21.30

Linda Skrzydlo

£21.30

Jenny

Very best of luck completing this challenge - it’ll be tough but I’ll be proud of you

£21.30

Julie

Good luck Louise. It's a lovely thing to do in memory of your Dad xx

£21.30

Karen

Good luck. Xx

£21.30

Danielle Jenkins

Good Luck Louise! A fantastic way to honour your lovely Dad!

£21.20

Richard Owen

Great thing to do. Good luck.

£20

Jacs & Gary Lush

£20

Linda And Colin

Well done sweetheart You did your dad proud ❤️

£20

Mel Harfitt

You’ve got this Lou xx

£20

Emma James

Well done Louise. Such a great cause in memory of a wonderful man xx

£19.74

Leanne Bygrave

❤️

£19.17

Chrissie

Good luck

£15.98

Halpin

Good luck xxx

£11.33

Katir Wrixon

What an incredible achievement for an incredible cause, Lou.

£11.33

Yvonne Snyman

So good to meet you, keep going you’re doing great.

£10.65

Susan Gillepie

Good Luck Sweetheart - you are doing an amazing thing

£10.65

Deb& Steve

Good luck x

£10.65

Auntie Sue

Well done for day 1 Louise. You can smash this xx

£10.65

Michelle Pearse

You've got this🥰

£10.65

Ryan Dowling

Good luck on the 160 mile walk

£10.60

Laura Crewe

What a lovely tribute for your dad. Good luck, you will smash it.

£10

Tish Slade

You go girl 💪🏻 xxx

£10

Lucy & Bridie

Well done Louise! You're bloomin' brilliant x

£10

Jo Bowers

Your are amazing xxx

£10