Rescued woman to host crucial fundraiser for NEWSAR

In August 2022, Donna Harrison from Cilcain, Flintshire, was out riding her horse with her mum and friends.

After being spooked by some cattle, her horse Grace tripped and fell before she stood on Donna's left thigh in an attempt to run away causing a massive trauma.

After dialing 999, the group were told an ambulance was an hour and a half away. Due to the inaccessibility of the land, police and mountain rescue were also contacted.

Local volunteer search and rescue team NEWSAR which covers Flintshire, Denbighshire, Wrexham and parts of Conwy and Powys were swiftly deployed and arrived at the scene within 20 minutes.

NEWSAR rescue van (Image: North East Wales Search and Rescue)

Once her pain was under control Donna was packaged in a stretcher and carried by NEWSAR team members from the field to the roadside where the ambulance could get to Donna easily.

NEWSAR team medics continued to monitor and treat Donna until the ambulance arrived two and a half hours after the first emergency call.

By this time Donna had gone into shock and desperately needed to get to hospital. Without the help of NEWSAR volunteers and the care she received at scene, Donna would have been in unbearable pain and at further risk of infection due to the remote and inaccessible place she fell.

After the accident Donna decided to raise money for NEWSAR as a thank you to the team of unpaid heroes.

She is on a quest to raise the £7,000 needed to purchase a new stretcher which the team desperately needs.

Donna is currently organising a black-tie dinner dance which is due to take place on Friday, June 21 at the Holiday Inn, A55 Chester West.

The event will consist of a red carpet entrance, welcome drinks, three course dinner, guest speaker Colin Maclachlan of SAS Who Dares Wins fame, raffle, auction and the evening will close with some dancing.

Colin has lived to tell the tale of many incredible and dangerous experiences, from being kidnapped to hunting down guerrilla gangs and hijacked planes.

Since retiring from the forces, he has provided high-level security to the likes of the Saudi Royal Family, was named a Sunday Times Bestseller, and found recent fame on the hit show, SAS: Who Dares Wins. 

Gill Brailsford, NEWSAR fundraising officer said: "On behalf of everyone at NEWSAR, I want to thank Donna for the huge amount of time and resources that she is dedicating to raising funds so that we can purchase a new stretcher which is a crucial piece of specialist equipment for the team.

"As a local charity, run entirely by volunteers, we receive virtually no Government funding. We therefore rely heavily on public donations. Every year we need to raise around £35,000 to fund the team, so we are very grateful to Donna and everyone who donates and supports her with this project."

Tickets are prices at £100 each and all money raised will go directly to NEWSAR

For further information and to book your tickets please contact Donna Harrison 07974224135 or charityeventnewsar@gmail.com.