'I'm determined to run again after losing my leg'

Lisa Challinor lost her left leg after being hit by a car in March 2024

A woman who had her leg amputated after being hit by a car travelling on the wrong side of the road has said she is intent on running marathons again.

Lisa Challinor, from Oswestry, Shropshire, has been given an award by the Midlands Air Ambulance charity in recognition of her inspiring story.

She was in the last weeks of training to run the 2024 London Marathon when the crash happened, but said she was "determined" to run in the 2027 event.

"I don't see myself as an inspiration, but I'm really proud to have received the award," Ms Challinor said.

She and her partner Roger Hughes had just left their house to walk their three dogs when she was hit by a speeding car that "catapulted" her over a wall.

A neighbour who was an orthopaedic nurse used Mr Hughes's belt to apply a tourniquet to Ms Challinor's leg.

"I'd lost a lot of blood," she said.

Midlands Air Ambulance landed in a nearby field, and flew Ms Challinor - a senior manager within the NHS - on the 16-minute journey to Royal Stoke University Hospital.

"They did a seven-hour operation, and tried to salvage as much of my leg as possible, resulting in a high above-knee amputation," she said.

Ms Challinor and her partner Roger Hughes had just set off for a dog walk when she was hit by a speeding car

Ms Challinor was later transferred to STEPS, a private rehabilitation hospital in Sheffield, and spent 13 weeks there.

"I had the trial of my first prosthetic leg on 22 April [2024]", she said, adding that she was able to use her new leg independently by the end of May that year.

A keen runner before the crash, the 52-year-old said running again was one of her goals with rehabilitation.

"I didn't think I'd get a blade for at least two years, but I got my first blade in December," she said of the device that lets her take part in the activity.

The prosthetic blade means Ms Challinor can train to run the London Marathon

Since then, she has been "learning to run" on the prosthetic.

"I'm determined to run the [London] marathon, hopefully in April 2027 if I get a place," she said.

Ms Challinor added that keeping up her fitness had been "really important" for her recovery.

"It means I'm able to walk, able to function differently," she said.

"I used to run three or four times a week before the accident, so to be able to get back to running now would be amazing."

Midlands Air Ambulance has since honoured Ms Challinor with its Inspiration Award.

"It's a bit surreal to be fair," she said of the recognition, adding that "they saved my life - I don't think I would have made it without them, I lost so much blood at the scene."

Ms Challinor said she had raised more than £10,000 for the charity, and her daughters ran the London Landmarks half marathon, raising a further £2,000.

"They're not funded by the government, they're solely supported through donations - they're just amazing," she said.

Ms Challinor, pictured here with her daughters Lexie and Ellie Challinor, said receiving the award was "surreal"

Ms Challinor said she did not see herself as an inspiration.

"I'm just carrying on with life as much as I can," she said. "Things happen - we can't change the past.

"Even though I've had this significant life-changing injury, I wanted to return to as much normality as possible.

"I don't feel like I'm an inspiration, but I'm really proud to have received [the award] because [Midlands Air Ambulance is] absolutely amazing."

The driver of the car that hit her was convicted of causing serious injury by careless driving.