An all-female team of specialist paramedics from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance will participate in the forthcoming Great North Run.

Marking in anticipation of Air Ambulance Week, Clare Fitchett and Dolly McPherson will join 20 fellow life-savers from 13 air ambulance services across the nation on September 8.

Another all-women group will compete in the New Forest half marathon on the same day.

The participation seeks to break the stereotype of their field as a male-dominated one and boost the visibility of women in helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS). They aim to inspire more women to apply for such roles.

Even though 44 per cent of paramedics in the UK are women, a mere one-fourth of critical-care paramedics and one-fifth of HEMS doctors are female.

The runners are keen on altering these statistics.

Both Dolly and Clare are experienced runners having completed several marathons and half marathons.

Their joint effort with colleagues from all around the country, however, promises a singular experience.

Their services, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, aids thousands of critically unwell and injured patients every year.

Ms Fitchett said: "I genuinely believe there are a lot of young girls out there who don’t realise they can be a doctor, pilot or paramedic on board an air ambulance. I want teenage girls to be able to look at air ambulance services and see that there are women doing these jobs.

"But they can’t be what they can’t see. If I can be a positive role model for young girls and women, and help them see themselves in someone like me, then that’s what I’ll do."

Ms McPherson added: "HEMS can be a hugely valuable and rewarding job irrespective of gender because of what we are privileged to do – help change and save lives.

"There’s still a lot more work to do,” emphasises Clare. “Why aren’t women applying for HEMS, or are they applying and not getting through?

"It’s such an exciting prospect to be running with so many inspirational women from HEMS services across the country – and even better to have the chance to build a social bond in the process of training.

"When women support each other, we can be a pretty powerful and inspirational force for change."