THOUSANDS of pounds has been raised in memory of a woman from Basingstoke who died in a road crash last year.

Eighteen-year-old Charlotte Emily Riches died in St George’s Hospital, in Tooting, on October 11, 2014, following the crash on the M3 near Sunbury-on-Thames, the previous day.

Her employers, housing developer Bewley Homes, where she worked as a junior secretary, hosted a charity golf day and auction fundraiser in aid of the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance (KSSAAT), which flew Charlotte to hospital.

The event was held at Sandford Springs Hotel and Golf Club, in Kingsclere, where more than 145 invited guests and Bewley Homes employees took part in a golf tournament and prize auction, helping to raise more than £13,000.

Charlotte’s mother, Sonia Riches, who is commercial secretary at Bewley Homes, said: “My husband Nick and I will be forever grateful for the medical care given to Charlotte by the KSSAAT crew on the night of October 10, 2014, as without their attendance we may not have been given the opportunity to say goodbye to her at St George’s Hospital.”

Prizes auctioned on the day including tickets to the England versus Switzerland European Qualifier, a framed and autographed shirt from All Blacks Rugby Union player Zinzan Brooke, a three-course Michelin dinner at The Shard and a weekend away in the village of Salcombe.

Neil Simpson, sales and marketing director at Bewley Homes, added: “The Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance is a cause that is very close to the Bewley Homes’ heart and it was our honour to spend the day raising much needed funds.”

KSSAAT provides helicopter emergency medical and air ambulance services across the south east of England and surrounding areas, and is funded almost entirely by voluntary donations.

Adrian Bell, chief executive of KSSAAT said: “We are indebted to Bewley Homes for putting on such a wonderful golf day in memory of Charlotte and also hugely grateful to all who took part for their very generous support of this charity – and I include all the sponsors and those who so thoughtfully donated the many auction and raffle prizes.

“Such a day cannot succeed without a lot of hard work and effort and so we are also extremely grateful to all those who organised this great event, especially Sonia.”