An Ashburton woman almost killed in a car crash last year will under take the annual Back to Base Challenge which begins tomorrow.
It is all about giving back for Edna-May Smith, 73, who says she owes her life to Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue.
Back to Base invites people to walk or do another physical activity over a set distance, to raise money for the helicopter service.
‘‘I’m more doing it to say thank you to the trust and their staff and to make people aware they are there if you need them,’’ Edna-May said.
Her Back to Base goal is 5km of walking over the month of August.
It may sound like a small distance, but every step is a miracle considering Edna-May is lucky to be alive.
While she used to enjoy walking one-and-a-half hours a day with her dogs and husband Trevor, since the crash she is restricted to using a walker.
The crash happened in wet and cold conditions in April last year.
On the outskirts of Ashburton her car was T-boned at an intersection and pushed about 90m down the road into a fence.
The rescue team worked for more than two hours to get Edna-May stable enough to fly to Christchurch Hospital.
Her injuries included a shattered pelvis, traumatic brain injury, ruptured spleen and severe bruising.
She remembers nothing of the crash, just waking up weeks later.
‘‘I remember being in a room in the hospital and looking out and seeing the reflection of the helicopters coming in.’’
She had been in an induced coma, and on life support for 27 days.
She spent four months in hospital.
Edna-May is joined in her gratitude to Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue by her family members.
They are forever grateful for giving her a second chance at life.
Daughter Anita Smith will also be doing Back to Base. She participated last year as well, raising the highest amount in Mid Canterbury of more than $1000.
Smith’s goal for the month is 164km.
The idea behind the challenge is match the distance of real helicopter missions.
The 164km represents the approximate distance the helicopter travelled on the day it rescued Edna-May.
Smith plans to clock up the kilometres by walking on her treadmill, and walking her dogs outside.
‘‘Every step is an indication of how far mum has taken through her journey to get better, and an indication of how far these guys travelled on that day. If they can do it for mum, I can do it for them,’’ Smith said.
‘‘They are the reason why mum is alive today. As a family we are forever in their debt.’’
DONATE: To support Edna-May Smith or her daughter Anita Smith, visit backtobase.co.nz
