AN ANDOVER mum completed the world famous London Marathon last Sunday to raise money for the charity which saved her daughter’s life.

Carey Ballard, 41, ran the gruelling 26.2mile race in aid of Thames Valley Air Ambulance, who rescued her daughter Charlotte from a horrifying car crash in 2013.

Since then the mother-of-four has been a keen supporter of the charity and, alongside her 24-year-old daughter, has become a volunteer fundraiser.

So when novice runner Carey was selected in the ballot for the London Marathon this year, there was only one charity on her mind.

The Weyhill Road resident said: “I was always going to run for Thames Valley Air Ambulance Service.

“They are amazing and such a wonderful team.

“That’s why we do whatever we can to raise money for them.

“I’m so thankful to them for saving Charlotte’s life.”

The family’s association with the charity began when a then 21-year-old Charlotte’s car skidded off the A34 near Chieveley in September 2013.

Her car plunged into a 30 foot deep embankment, before finally coming to a stop on its roof.

Paramedics, including a crew from Thames Valley Air Ambulance, rushed to the scene to rescue Charlotte - who was unconscious at the time.

Charlotte suffered multiple injuries in the crash, including a broken back, punctured lung, and a fractured sternum.

Despite the seriousness of her injuries, Charlotte made a miraculous recovery and returned home after just five days in intensive care and two further weeks in hospital.

The Ballard family met crews from Thames Valley Air Ambulance six months later, in February 2014, and have been keen supporters of the charity ever since.

Charlotte, who was working with her parents at the time of the crash, was so inspired by the charity’s work that she is now training to become a paramedic.

She is currently studying a three year course at Oxford Brooks University.

The pair regularly fundraise for the charity and in the past have raised £1,700 as a thank ALEX Payton will continue as the Liberal Democrats’ candidate for North West Hampshire at the snap general election, it has been announced.

The Thatcham-based barrister was selected as the party’s candidate in August last year, in a pre-emptive move by the local branch.

The party said at the time it was preparing for the possibility of a snap general election, which did you for their part in rescuing Charlotte. But Carey decided to go one step further this year and run the London Marathon in aid of the charity - despite having no previous experience.

To her surprise, the mother-offour was selected in the ballot system. She said: “It was such a shock. I was on the floor for two hours because I just couldn’t believe it.”

Using training guides provided by the organisers of the London Marathon, Carey took to the street and began to practice her long-distance running.

Training three times a week, the housewife quickly developed her stamina for the 26.3mile race. Last week she completed the marathon, with a friend, in around six hours and 30 minutes.

Talking about the run, she said: “It was a surreal feeling approaching the finish line.

“It’s something you talk about non stop for months and when you get there you don’t really want it to end.

“I never ran before this but I’ve caught the running bug.

As well as completing a personal achievement, Carey also raised over £2,300 for the ambulance in the process. Visit: www.justgiving/careyballard.

com.