A 15-YEAR-OLD girl has released a song in support of a charity that saved her life.

When Maisie Sheridan was hit by a camper van on her way to a dance class four years ago, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA) was called to her aid.

After being treated at the scene and airlifted to hospital, she was rushed to resus where tests showed that she had fractured her skull and eye socket and that she had a couple of lesions on her brain. She had soft tissue damage to her groin and knee and road burns to her torso. Due to the impact Maisie lost a layer of skin from her face, but when she talks about this today she simply jokes that she ‘lost some of her freckles.’

This year is the DSAA's 20th anniversary and the charity has launched a 'Save a Life Challenge' asking the public to show their support by making donations, with an aim of raising £3,000 - the approximate cost of one life-saving mission.

To kick-start the campaign, Maisie has co-written and recorded a song called ‘Flying Heroes’. She has attracted the help of local singer/songwriter Ed Hintze and producer David Payne to create the song. All proceeds from the streaming and digital sales will be donated to DSAA for one year from the date of release.

Maisie said: “I know first-hand how incredible the clinical team at Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance are. Without their intervention, my story may well have had a different ending. It is because of public donations that the air ambulance was able to help save my life. I want to continue doing my bit to try and ensure that others are also able to receive the same life-saving treatment, should they ever need it. Saying thank you will never be enough, but I hope that my song, in support of the Save a Life Challenge, shows how very grateful I will always be.”

Tracy Bartram, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance Communications Manager said: “This year we anticipated marking our 20th Anniversary with a number of key events and activities. Many of our supporters also had plans to raise funds and awareness of our life-saving work. Unfortunately, all of these were cancelled or put on hold due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We hope that our Save a Life Challenge will appeal to the public and give them a chance to do whatever they can to help fund the cost of as many life-saving missions as possible."

Head to www.dsairambulance.org.uk/savealife for more information.