Jayne Saville, a dog trainer from Rutland, recently walked an estimated 480,000 steps, raising more than £1,250 for EMICS (East Midlands Immediate Care Scheme) in memory of her late mother. 

Jayne’s mother passed away suddenly from an acute medical condition. While immediate advanced medical intervention could not have changed the outcome, the experience left Jayne deeply aware of the importance of immediate medical attention. Her mother’s generosity and love for helping others inspired Jayne to channel her grief into action. 

“My mum’s death was so sudden, and it made me realise how vital emergency advanced medical support is,” she explained. “I wanted to do something meaningful in her memory and I know EMICS can make a life-changing difference.” 

Jayne set the anniversary of her mother’s passing as her goal for completing the challenge. “Finishing on that day felt like a way to turn my grief into something positive,” she explained. She explored local routes in Market Overton, Ketton, and Braunston, rich in family memories. Accompanied by her three spaniels.  

“Walking in these places brought back so many memories. It felt like my mum was with me every step of the way,” she said.  

The challenge, which amounted to over 280 miles, was not without its lighter moments. Jayne’s husband often joked about her mileage. “Every day I’d say, ‘Fancy a walk?’” and he’d ask how many miles I had left. 

“Many people knew my mum and wanted to contribute, which made this journey even more special.” Jayne said. Support from family, friends, and her dog training clients helped her exceed her original fundraising target, with all proceeds going toward EMICS’ essential operational costs, including equipping the fast-response vehicle with life-saving equipment and supplies.  

Tim Gray MBE, founder of EMICS, expressed his gratitude: “Jayne’s efforts have been extraordinary. When I set up EMICS 40 years ago with just a white 1989 Ford Escort, I never imagined the support we would receive from people in this way. She reminds us how individual actions can profoundly impact our community.” 

Jayne hopes her story will inspire others to support EMICS and its mission to provide emergency medical care across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and Leicestershire. 

For more information on EMICS and how to get involved, visit https://emics.org.uk/support-us.