TWO sisters from the Forest of Dean have raised more than £13,000 for Great Western Air Ambulance Charity after summiting three of the UK’s highest peaks in 24 hours.

Local residents Raine Horne, who lives in Aylburton, and Rachel James of St Briavels took on the National Three Peaks Challenge back in June to raise money for the charity which helped save the life of Raine’s son, Oliver Berry, after a serious road accident two years ago.

The famed hiking challenge involves climbing the three highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales - Scafell Pike, Ben Nevis and Snowdon - in 24 hours, with walkers being driven from the foot of one mountain to the next.

Rachel and Raine originally set a fundraising target of £5,000 for the challenge, but managed to raise a grand total of £13,271 thanks to the "generosity" and support of the local community.

The sisters recently visited the charity’s base in Almondsbury to present staff with a cheque for the total amount raised.

Monmouth Haberdashers Sixth Form pupil Ollie was 16 years old when he was involved in a serious road accident in June 2019.

He had been out riding on his bike when he cycled out of a side pathway and collided with a van, causing him "significant injuries".

The GWAAC team on duty that day, specialist paramedic James Yates, trainee specialist paramedic Pete Reeve and doctor Tim Godfrey arrived on scene and saw that Ollie was rapidly losing a lot of blood.

The impact of the collision had resulted in heavy internal bleeding in Ollie’s abdomen and severe damage to his liver.

Having lost around six pints of blood, the team gave him a transfusion with all the blood and plasma they carry on board.

After treating Ollie at the scene, the team knew they had to get him to hospital quickly if he was to have any chance of survival.

Doctor Tim Godfrey recalls: ’’On our way in Ollie was extremely unstable, he’d had all the blood products we carry and I remember thinking "We’ve run out blood, what are we going to do now?’’

"Looking out of the window, I realised we were just outside Southmead Hospital.

"We gave Ollie all of the blood and plasma we carry; without them I have no doubt he’d have died before we could have got him to hospital.

"His life was saved because of those blood donors and the kind monetary donations of those who fund us to carry blood.’’

After the incident, Ollie spent weeks in intensive care but has since made a full recovery.

In December 2019, GWAAC welcomed Ollie and his family to their base to meet the team that had played a part in saving his life.

During the visit, Ollie commented: ’Now fully recovered (although very tired), I am delighted to still be here today.

"I know this is due to the amazing team that treated me. I can never really thank them enough.

"I will always look to support this charity. From experience you really never know when you may need them - thank you so much.’’

Rachel and Raine said that without the immediate response of the air ambulance, they would be telling "a different story today".

On completing the challenge, Rachel said: "Raine and I want to thank everybody for their support before during and after the challenge.

"The money you all generously helped to raise will bring lifesaving help to families in the future.

"We continue to be overwhelmed by people’s generosity and want to say a huge thank you.

"It was all the kind words and positive thoughts that willed us on to complete the challenge."

Rachel added that the challenge was "a very tough one mentally and physically".

"Our summits were beautifully clear on Ben Nevis and Scafell but not so clear on Snowdon", she added.

"Visiting the GWAAC base once again was a very emotional experience, but going back a second time with something to give back for all the good they do felt really great.

"As a family we all hold them dearly in our hearts and thoughts."

The Great Western Air Ambulance Charity receives no financial contribution from the Government and rely completely on donations from the public.

The charity says that the importance of giving blood "and the impact it can have on saving someone’s life" is clear to see in Ollie’s story.

To find out more about giving blood, go to www.blood.co.uk.

More information about GWAAC is available at greatwesternairambulance.com/how-to-help.