Wallingford postwoman and medical reservist prepares ...

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Wallingford postwoman and medical reservist prepares for slog in aid of heroes

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DURING the week, she delivers letters and parcels to homes around Wallingford.

But at weekends, Natalie Taylor trains with 4626 Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, preparing to deploy to Afghanistan as a medical reservist and to care for wounded soldiers as they are flown home for treatment.

The 28-year-old postwoman is about to embark on her toughest round yet, marching 87 miles in 53 hours to raise money for the rehabilitation of injured troops.

Miss Taylor, of Colwell Road, Berinsfield, will be among a group of 12 members of the squadron setting off on a sponsored hike along The Ridgeway tomorrow, in aid of Help For Heroes and Troop Aid.

Like her, the group are all medical reservists, who leave their day jobs for months on end to rescue wounded casualties on the front line, and care for them until they get to hospital in Britain.

Miss Taylor said: “My dad, Martin Taylor, was a reservist at RAF Benson as a gunner, but because I am a female, I cannot do that.

“I did two years of nursing training at Oxford Brookes, but had to give it up because I could not afford it.

“I did not want to put two years of medical training to waste, so this seemed a perfect opportunity.”

She added: “The first five months was normal RAF training, learning how to fire a rifle and become a soldier.

“Then we continue one weekend a month doing medical training: first aid, splints, tourniquet, bandages and that sort of thing.

“I always wanted to join the military, but I do not want to drag my partner everywhere I get posted, so this is a good in-between.”

She is preparing to deploy to Afghanistan for the first time next May.

But first, the 12 reservists want to raise £10,000 for the two military charities, setting off from Ivinghoe Beacon, Buckinghamshire, and arriving at Overton Hill, Wiltshire, two days later, before continuing on to the squadron's home at RAF Lyneham on Saturday.

They will march at 3.75mph for 12 hours a day.

Miss Taylor said: “Being a postwoman, I feel I have had fairly good training, but I am really looking forward to the physical challenge.

“I do a lot of fitness stuff, and it will be good working as a team to get through it.”