A BLAKEDOWN woman who suffered a fractured skull in a horror crash on a motorway has celebrated raising £10,000 for the service that saved her life.

Lucy Dawkins embarked on a fundraising mission for the Air Ambulance after they came to her aid when she suffered serious head injuries during the crash on the M42 at Tamworth in 2013.

The 26-year-old, who is a PE teacher at Haybridge School in Hagley, was treated by paramedics as she was flown to Walsgrave Hospital.

The air ambulance, for the Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland areas, had been returning to base after attending another incident when they answered the call.

To show their appreciation for the efforts, Lucy and her parents Martin and Karen – who live in Wysall, Nottinghamshire, started the fund-raising campaign for the Air Ambulance.

They initially set a target of £4,000 but have more than doubled that and handed over £10,300 to Air Ambulance fund-raising coordinator Charlotte Marson at their headquarters at East Midlands Airport.

To raise the impressive total Lucy took part in the London Marathon while Martin undertook a 24-hour spinathon and the family organised a three-course meal for 60 guests.

Lucy's dad Martin, who works at Loughborough University Sports Development Centre, said: “We owe so much to the Air Ambulance team that rescued Lucy.

“In fact, the crew may have risked their own lives by attending the scene. Low on fuel, they were returning to base from another incident to refuel, but made the decision to attend Lucy's accident despite possible risk to themselves.

“We are delighted to be able to make a contribution for this valuable service to the local community from an organisation that receives no Government funding and operates its life saving service entirely from sponsorship and charity donations

“We will be always grateful to the Air Ambulance Service, whose prompt actions may have saved our daughters life.”

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the Midlands Air Ambulance by visiting www.midlandsairambulance.com