Cycle Team In High Profile Company At Leading Show

KEEN cyclists from across the UK will have a chance to learn more about the award-winning St John Ambulance London Cycle Response Unit (CRU) at this year's Cycle Show in Earl's Court.

The enormously popular event, which opens its doors to the public on Friday 8th October through to Sunday 10th October, will see St John Ambulance in the company of countless world cycling brands, and cycling celebrities like Rebecca Romero - the show itself is being opened by Lord Sugar - star of the apprentice who himself is a keen cyclist.

St John Ambulance will have one of its specially equipped mountain bikes and volunteers from its Cycle Response Unit, along with other London emergency services colleagues, on stand F28 throughout the event.

The Cycle Response Unit provides emergency first aid that compliments the operational role of St John Ambulance in the communities that it serves across the Capital.

The team uses specially equipped mountain bicycles to carry advanced first aid equipment - including an Automated External Defibrillator and medical gases. Throughout this year it has made the difference to countless lives and been first-on-scene at incidents such as serious stabbings and other life threatening situations.

Ashley Sweetland, who leads operational cycling for St John Ambulance, said: 'We are really pleased to be present at the Cycle Show this year.

'It's an opportunity for us to share information on the life-saving work of St John Ambulance, along with demonstrating our commitment to cycling to the huge number of visitors. We plan to use the opportunity to show the public how first aid training can make the difference between a life lost and life saved.'

All CRU volunteers are highly trained and meet the National Cycling Standards and undertake the Public Safety Cycling Advanced Training Course.

The unit has operated at over 150 events in 2010 across London, from the Virgin London Marathon and Tour de France to the Hyde Park Concerts, the Freewheel and Sky ride, Pride London and marches including G20 and Climate Change rallies as well as many local events in boroughs across London.

St John Ambulance London trains 32,000 people in first aid every year and nearly 5,000 volunteers serve the London element of the organisation, providing over 574,000 hours of duty service throughout the year.

It has a thriving youth aspect, with children able to become members from the age of five - as Badgers - and then progressing to Cadets (ages 10 - 17).