A DEDICATED fundraiser whose life was saved by North West Air Ambulance will climb up Mount Everest in aid of the charity.

Jennifer Edlington, who was airlifted to hospital after suffering a series of horrific injuries in a motorbike crash in September 2012, will say thank you to North West Air Ambulance by climbing to Everest Base Camp.

Mrs Edlington, aged 37, of Little Lever, crashed while on a motorbike in Darwen and suffered several serious injuries including a broken back, a broken pelvis in three places, two collapsed lungs and a broken collar bone.

To date, Mrs Edlington has raised about £8,000 for North West Air Ambulance, along with her father Mike Benson.

She will be one of five people from the fitness group Mud Bootcamp to climb to Everest Base Camp, which is more than 5,000 metres high and has oxygen levels of about 50% of that at sea level.

The group hope to raise £2,700 for North West Air Ambulance.

Mrs Edlington said: “Without the speed of North West Air Ambulance, I wouldn’t be here. I’m extremely grateful for what they did for me and raising money for them through this trek is the least I can do.

“Trekking Everest should be an amazing experience that’s totally different to the other challenges I’ve done and it will push us all to our limit.

“For me, it’s all about pushing myself to do something I’ve never done before.”

The North West Air Ambulance Charity airlifted Mrs Edlington to the trauma centre at Preston Royal Hospital in just four minutes where she received specialised treatment.

After recovering from the incident, Jennifer joined Mud Bootcamp in February 2014, and since then she has taken part in 10k fell runs, 5k obstacle runs and the Three Peaks Challenge.

She has also gone through physiotherapy sessions and has built up her strength and fitness with the help of Mud Bootcamp instructor Jason Standish.

It was Mr Standish who suggested to her that she completed the climb for North West Air Ambulance as a way of saying thank you for what they did for her.

Mrs Edlington said: “My husband knows Jason and he recommended him to me. Jason has been a fantastic help to me and I love being part of Mud Bootcamp.

“The people I train with are awesome, which will make this event extra special.”

Mr Standish, aged 28, of Bromley Cross, said: “Everest is somewhere that only those with strength, dedication, focus and determination – and a little bit of craziness — will ever reach, and it’s those very traits that have seen Jen get to where she is today.”

To sponsor Mrs Edlington’s team, visit: www.justgiving.com/EverestMudBootCamp