AFTER almost dying in a motorcycle crash, Lechlade man Dylan Jones is running half marathons to raise money for the medics who saved his life.

In the summer of 2012 Dylan, 19 at the time, was riding his motorcycle home when he was involved in a crash with a car in Lechlade.

Dylan suffered a broken neck, two broken arms, bruised lungs, bleeding on the brain, a severed trachea and multiple other injuries.

He required complex surgery on the roadside provided by Wiltshire Air Ambulance and Swift Medics, before being airlifted to hospital for a 12-hour operation.

Since recovering, he has set up Dylan’s Marathon Challenge, running in many charity events to raise money for Wiltshire Air Ambulance, and drumming up about £30,000 so far.

He and his family believe that without the air ambulance, which is a charity, Dylan would not be alive today.

Dylan said: “After I was discharged from hospital and found out the extent of my injuries, I knew that learning to walk was going to be my biggest challenge yet.

“Being able to push myself one step further and focus on the half-marathon as a goal, not just for myself but as a way to raise money for Wiltshire Air Ambulance and Swift Medics, has helped drive me and keep me going.

“I just want to try and give something back as what they did to save me that night was truly amazing.”

It used to cost the charity £700,000 a year to keep the helicopter flying, but police funding has been taken away and so now around £2.5million is needed annually.

This year, along with his friends and family, Dylan will be running Bath Half Marathon to once again raise funds for the air ambulance.

Anyone who chooses to run with him will not have to pay the registration fee for the half marathon, but will be asked to raise at least £200 in sponsorship.

Visit dylansmarathonchal.wix.com for more.