A WOMAN who was left paralysed from the waist down following a horrific car accident says she is “so humbled” after thousands of pounds were raised to help her.

Ali Puckering, a professional dog walker, was out walking with a friend and four dogs when she was hit by a car while crossing a road near her home in Great Lumley, County Durham, last October 20.

Her friend and the dogs escaped unhurt, but Mrs Puckering suffered a broken back, leg and shoulder, a collapsed lung and head injuries and was rushed to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.

The 45-year-old spent the next three months, including Christmas, in hospital before finally being allowed home in mid-January.

She can remember nothing from the accident until waking up in hospital.

"My first thought was are the dogs okay?" she said.

Although now unable to use her legs, Mrs Puckering is refusing to give up hope of walking again and wants to buy a specially adapted motorised wheelchair so she can get around the house more easily and get back to work.

“I don’t want to sit around. I want to work,” she said.

A seven-strong team led by friends Neil Graham and Steven Dodd did a 150-mile sponsored cycle ride from Great Lumley to Bamburgh Castle and back earlier this month – a two-day effort that has so far raised £2,295 via the Crowdfunding website.

Meanwhile, Mrs Puckering’s daughter Ellie, 14, organised a bake sale and raffle – an initiative for which she received the If U Care Share prize at Thursday’s (June 25) Park View School awards night.

A school spokeswoman said: “Ellie is a determined and loyal student and we are really proud of her efforts to support her mum.”

“I’m so humbled by it all,” Mrs Puckering said. “I just can't understand it’s all for little me.”

The wheelchair will cost about £3,500. To make a donation, visit crowdfunding.justgiving.com/ride4ali or facebook.com/ride4ali

The cyclists involved were: Steven Dodd, Gavin Bithell, Paul Dobbs, Terry Ottaway, Mark Brown, Christopher Watson, Blake Robinson and Stephen Tones. Neil Graham and Stuart Innerd provided support.