£3,000 raised to help Shropshire paramedic Mel recover from fall

Hundreds of friends, family and colleagues of paramedic Melissa Jago raised the money during a charity walk held at Dearnford Lake in Whitchurch.

The money will be used to help pay for rehabilitation treatment and home adaptations. Melissa's 11-year-old son, Finnley Edwards led the walk on Sunday along with Mel's partner John Edwards.

In September last year Finnley found his mum lying at the bottom of the stairs at their home in Wem and called an ambulance.

However, her head injuries were so severe that she had to be airlifted to the Royal Stoke University Hospital where she remained in a critical condition for several weeks.

She was moved to a specialist neuro rehabilitation unit at Christmas and doctors are hopeful that with time and intensive therapy she will regain speech and movement.

Friends say it is early days and Melissa, 48, has a long, difficult journey of recovery ahead of her.

Close friend Fiona Mahon said: "We want to thank everyone who came, and also thank people who couldn't make it but sent in their donations with friends. We counted nearly 300 people which was amazing. Also a huge thank you to people who had brought envelopes of money they had raised beforehand and handed to us when they came in.

"It was a great success and we raised an incredible amount of money. Thank you to everyone.

"Mel's house will require substantial adaptations before she is able to leave hospital. We want to ensure that she receives the best treatment and is able to live as normal and independent a life as possible in the future.

"Mel is a paramedic who has served her community in and around Wem and Whitchurch for over 15 years.

"She has helped and supported countless patients and their families in their hour of need and now we have an opportunity to help Mel when she needs it most."

"It's time to give back to Mel."

To donate, go to justgiving.com/crowdfunding/thinking-of-mel