A BRIDPORT woman is raising funds as a way of paying back the emergency service which saved her mother's life.

Kate Ockenden will run from Minehead in Somerset to Dawlish in Devon over a two day period this weekend - a distance of 100km - to raise money for the Air Ambulance Service.

Kate's mother, Diana Ockenden, suffered a heart attack at her Bridport home in January.

Diana, 77, noted something was wrong when she took her blood pressure that morning - part of her daily routine - and it was much higher than usual. A call was made to emergency services and Diana was eventually airlifted to Exeter Hospital by the Devon Air Ambulance team.

Kate said: "What could have been an even more horrific day was made bearable due to the quick and fantastic response of the emergency services. When my dad called 999 they had a paramedic there within five minutes, which is a mind-blowing response.

"She was then taken to Exeter Hospital by the wonderful Devon Air Ambulance where she was treated and has made slow but good and steady progress ever since.

"What is an everyday occurrence for the air ambulance team has changed our family's lives. Exeter is nearly an hour away by car, but by Air Ambulance it is only 12 to 15 minutes."

Kate has set up a JustGiving page to support her cause. The page has currently raised more than £750. Kate and Diana were also able to raise £100 in a car boot sale earlier this year.

Kate will be travelling to Minehead tomorrow (Friday) to stay overnight and start early on the morning of Saturday, July 24. She will then complete the 100km journey over two days.

Diana said: "The care I received was just unbelievable. From calling 111 to the ambulance crew arriving at the house and telling me in no uncertain terms I was having a heart attack.

"They asked for an air ambulance to pick me up but because of the weather conditions on the day I had to be driven to Charmouth where the air ambulance was able to pick me up and fly me all the way to Exeter Hospital.

"I stayed there for five days and they looked after me very well. I've had a few hiccups since but am now well on my way to recovery.

"They do such a good job and they're entirely reliant on donations so it's important to raise awareness of that. If the public don't donate we'd be short of a helicopter, which would be a great shame."

To donate to Kate's cause, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/kate-ockenden