A 34-year-old woman from Warminster who was paralysed after a car accident 15 years ago joined hundreds of Santas to raise money for spinal cord injury sufferers at the Longleat Santa fun run.

The event, which was organised by the Southern Spinal Injuries Trust (SSIT), was held at Lord Bath’s home on Sunday.

A sea of more than 300 Santas were joined by TV Gladiator Tempest, aka Lucy Boggis from Lower Stanton St Quintin, near Chippenham, who led the warm up in front of Longleat House.

The run, which has so far raised more than £4,000 for the charity, holds a special place in the heart of Helen Bull, from Warminster, who wanted to raise money for the charity after she was left paralysed following a car accident, in which her friend died, in Gloucester in March 1994.

The former Kingdown School pupil, who broke her back and injured her spinal cord in the crash, raised £840 through the fun run.

Other members of her family also took part, raising another £800 for the cause. The Wessex Water employee said: “The first I knew I was in an accident was when I woke up two-and-a-half months later in intensive care in Cheltenham. I was later transferred to Odstock Hospital in Salisbury, where I spent 10 months on the Duke of Cornwall unit doing physio.

“The charity wasn’t set up when I had my accident, but if it had been I would have benefited from its support.

“I know how it feels to try and get your life back on track and I wanted to help and inspire others by taking part.

“I have a fantastic job, I drive a car and I’m happily married. I just wanted people to know that life goes on. It’s all about your mind set and making the best of a terrible situation.

“Everybody had a wonderful day and my heart was full with joy because I knew I was making a difference to lots of people’s lives.”

The two-mile run went through the Longleat estate into Horningsham and back down Lodge Drive towards Longleat house.

SSIT trustee Jeremy Major said: “We are thrilled that so many people turned out to support us on this first Santa Fun Run at Longleat. “We are hugely grateful to all those who helped make this event such a success and in particular to Lord Bath for choosing SSIT as Charity of the Year 2010 thus enabling us to run the event and to Lucy for her support. “A special thanks must also go to 3rd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment who gave up their free time to help man the event.”

For more details about the Southern Spinal Injuries Trust visit their website at www.ssit.org.

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