WILTSHIRE’S Air Ambulance (WAA) received a cheque for £19,500 following the tenth running of the White Horse Challenge, taking the total amount raised by the event to £126,000.

Ninety-four people took part in this year’s event, which was held on July 4-5 and allowed to complete anything from seven to 52 mile routes while taking in seven iconic white horses around Wiltshire.

The event is organised by Monahans Chartered Accountants, the Westbury truck firm Rygor and Rocking Horse Nursery in Shaw. It is also sponsored by the Wiltshire Times and Gazette & Herald.

Fundraising manager at the WAA, Rebecca de la Bedoyere, said: “We are absolutely delighted by the fantastic amount raised in this year’s White Horse Challenge, which will make a real difference in helping to keep our life-saving helicopter and crew flying.

“Members of the charity team here at Wiltshire Air Ambulance also took part in the challenge, so we fully appreciate just how demanding the full 52 mile course is, and we’re extremely grateful to everyone who walked part or all of the course to support our vital work.

“The White Horse Challenge has grown over the past decade to become one of the most significant and special fundraising events in our calendar, thanks to the incredible hard work and dedication of Monahans, Rygor and Rocking Horse Nursery who organise it.

“Thanks to the combined efforts of everyone involved, we have raised enough to pay for approximately seven potentially life-saving missions, a terrific achievement.”

For more information on next year’s event, which will take place on July 9-10, visit http://www.whitehorsechallenge.co.uk/