Core Performance Gym is calling on people across Bedford to go "All In For Life" on Saturday, 19th September 2026—a full-day fitness challenge raising money for Magpas Air Ambulance. The charity brings hospital-level emergency care to the most seriously ill and injured patients across Bedfordshire, reaching them in an average of just 14 minutes.
Among those taking part in the event is Allistair Berry, who was treated by the Magpas Air Ambulance team after suffering a cardiac arrest. Allistair shares: “I’m really excited to be part of the Magpas Air Ambulance team at the Core Performance Gym fundraiser this week. It will be a really good opportunity to help raise awareness and vital fundraising for Magpas Air Ambulance, who saved my life in 2023 after I suffered a cardiac arrest. By taking part in this event, our team members will be having a great time, in addition to knowing the all the money raised will go directly to help other people like me receive hospital level care wherever they need it.”
At the event, teams of four will take on a series of scalable workouts throughout the day, designed so that people of all ages and abilities can take part. No fitness experience is necessary, and family and friends are encouraged to come along and cheer from the sidelines. A team of staff and clinicians from Magpas Air Ambulance will be getting involved alongside Allistair Berry.
In addition to the workouts, there will be food vendors, stalls, coffee and ice cream, making it a day out for the whole community. Teams arrive from 8:15 am for a 9 am start, with the event finishing by 3 pm at Core Performance Gym.
Each team is asked to raise a minimum of £100, with the gym aiming to raise £2,000 for the charity. Teams can register here and donations can be made on their JustGiving page.
Magpas Air Ambulance relies entirely on donations to keep flying. Its doctors and critical care paramedics fly to patients across Bedfordshire in an average time of just 14 minutes. Each mission costs an average of £3,000, and the charity needs to raise more than £6 million every year to maintain the service. So far in 2026, the team has been called to more than 260 incidents across the county, including the Bedfordshire train crash in June.
Iain Armstrong, a Core Performance member who’s organising the event, said: "Our ‘All In For Life’ event is about far more than fitness. It's a chance for our members, their families and the wider Bedford community to come together, have a great day and raise money for Magpas Air Ambulance—because any one of us might need their service one day. You don't need to be an athlete; just bring three friends and get involved for a great cause."
Magpas Air Ambulance Doctor Lisa Ramage attends the gym regularly and adds: "Not only do I know how passionate everyone is at Core Performance to get involved and raise funds for their local air ambulance service, I also know how important events like this are for Magpas Air Ambulance. Every mission we attend is made possible with funds raised from people like the team at Core Performance Gym. This event will help us continue to provide lifesaving critical care in the community, and on behalf of everyone at Magpas Air Ambulance, we're truly grateful for their support."
