Pictured: Dr Duncan Bootland, Consultant in Emergency Medicine at the Royal Sussex County Hospital joins colleagues Sophy Dunn, Helene Poursain and Warren Porritt from Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS) at the hospital’s new helipad to mark completing day three of the five day challenge.
Emergency medicine consultant takes on five marathons in five days in support of life saving air ambulance charity
A UHSussex consultant has joined colleagues from Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS) to take on an extraordinary challenge that will see him walk five marathons in five days, raising vital funds and awareness for the life-saving charity.
Dr Duncan Bootland, Consultant in Emergency Medicine at Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton is also the Executive Medical Director at KSS. Duncan is walking five marathons this week (Monday 18th to Friday 22nd May 2026) alongside KSS colleagues Sophy Dunn, Helene Poursain and Warren Porritt. His participation in the challenge reflects the Trust’s commitment to partner with and support the health and wellbeing of local communities. The group are being supported by colleagues and volunteers who are joining them along the way, all to raise vital funds while shining a light on the charity’s important lifesaving work.
Yesterday (20th May) the ‘fab four’ completed their third marathon of the week, starting at Marsfield and ending at Royal Sussex County Hospital’s new helipad, where the group took photographs to celebrate. The foursome will conclude their challenge with the final marathon taking place on Friday.
UHSussex’s Dr Duncan Bootland said: “It’s been an incredible challenge to be part of so far, both physically and mentally, but hugely rewarding. I’m delighted to be doing this alongside colleagues at KSS to help raise funds for the vital, life-saving work they do every day for patents across Sussex.
“It’s a tough challenge – five marathons in five days is no small feat – but it really puts into perspective the work these teams do. It’s also been especially poignant to conclude our third day here at Royal Sussex County Hospital’s new helipad, a facility that is already helping get critically ill patients directly to specialist care faster when every second counts.”
Supporting lifesaving emergency treatment
The hospital’s new rooftop helipad officially opened earlier this year and is used by KSS and air ambulances to transfer critically ill and severely injured patients directly to specialist teams in minutes, significantly improving emergency care outcomes across Sussex.
Sophy Dunn, Project and Compliance Manager at KSS, who came up with the idea for the challenge, said: “This challenge has taken me completely outside my comfort zone, physically, mentally and emotionally. Walking five marathons sounds simple until you start doing the miles. But it’s about more than the distance, it’s about showing what’s possible, even when life throws limitations at you, and raising awareness of the incredible work KSS does. We are so grateful for the amount of support we have received, especially by some of our supporters from within our community who are helping to make our life easier, from discounted hotel rooms, to providing much needed refreshments at stops along the way.”
Funds raised from the challenge will support KSS, which provides lifesaving pre-hospital emergency treatment and care to people who are critically ill or injured. The charity’s specialist doctors and paramedics are dispatched by air or road to incidents across the region, delivering advanced critical lifesaving treatment at the scene and en route to hospital when every second counts.
Stops in Sussex
The five-day challenge includes stops at locations across Sussex:
- Day 1 – KSS base at Rochester Airport – Ringlestone, Maidstone, East Farleigh, West Farleigh, Nettlestead, Paddock Wood, Matfield, Pembury, Royal Tunbridge Wells
- Day 2 – Royal Tunbridge Wells, Groombridge, Upper Hartfield, Uckfield, Maresfield
- Day 3 – Marsfield, Isfield, Barcombe, South Malling, Lewes, Swanborough Hill, Brighton (ending at Royal Sussex County Hospital Helipad)
- Day 4 – Brighton, Ditchling, Lindfield, Ardingly, Forge Wood, Horley
- Day 5 – Horley, Leigh, North Holmwood, Dorking, Reigate, Redhill, KSS base at Redhill Aerodrome
Support & find out more
The team hopes their journey will inspire others to challenge themselves and help raise awareness of the charity’s vital role across the region. To support them or find out more, visit: https://aakss.org.uk/donations-5-marathons.
