A STOURBRIDGE woman will be taking part in next year's London marathon as she embarks on a fundraising mission for Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance.

Lucy Dawkins wants to show her gratitude to the crew that saved her life after she was involved in a motorway smash last year.

The 23-year-old was travelling in her Ford Fiesta on the M42 southbound when it is believed her car aquaplaned on surface water.

Her car collided with the hard shoulder barrier before rebounding into the central reservation.

Ms Dawkins, who was just five weeks into her new job as a PE teacher at Haybridge High School, Hagley, sustained serious head injuries, including a fractured skull and laceration to the back of the head.

The M42 was closed for several hours in both directions to allow the rescue operation to take place and to allow the helicopter to land on the motorway and fly her to the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire.

Ms Dawkins said: “I have no recollection of the incident. I just remember that I was driving and that the weather conditions were really bad. I must have just lost control on surface water. The next thing I know, I’m in intensive care.”

Months later, Ms Dawkins, who is a keen hockey player, has gone on to make a full recovery and recently paid a visit to the crew that rescued her.

She said: “I’m normally a very active person, so it’s been really frustrating not being able to do much since the incident. But thankfully, I’m on the mend and can’t wait to get back to living my normal life.

“I’m just so grateful to the crew for coming to rescue me. If it wasn’t for their quick response and for public donations, I might not be here today.

"Nobody ever knows when they might need the services of an air ambulance, and it’s so important that people support the team and help them continue their lifesaving work."

The incident was just one of 333 road traffic collisions that crews were called out to in 2013.

Each rescue mission costs approximately £1,700, which is funded entirely through public donations and corporate sponsorships.

Ms Dawkins now plans to raise valuable funds for the service, she said: "I am planning to run the London Marathon in 2015 and organise other fund raising events for them.”