WHEN Ann Kirkwood suffered a heart attack at her remote home at Eals, near Haltwhistle, the Great North Air Ambulance whisked her to the Cumberland Infirmary at Carlisle within 12 minutes.

And her two sons were so grateful to the mercy helicopter which saved their 75-year-old mother‘s life life they have got on their bikes to raise money for the charity.

Phil Kirkwood (40) and Paul Gordon (46) took part in Wales’s biggest cycling event, the gruelling Welsh Velothon, an 86-mile cycle ride to raise £1,300 for the Great North Air Ambulance Service.

Ann, herself a charity volunteer and former Samaritan, suffered her heart attack in June last year, and a rapid response team arrived quickly to establish her condition before the air ambulance arrived

Phil, from Guilford, Surrey, said: “Within a very short space of time, a helicopter landed opposite her home, and thanks to their fast response, she is still with us today.

“Without them it could have been a very different story.”

A year on from the incident, Phil and Paul joined some 15,000 cyclists on the roads of south-east Wales, with a route that went through Newport, Usk, Blaenavon, Newbridge, Blackwood and Caerphilly.

Paul, from Croydon, suffered a puncture after around 20 minutes into the ride but this didn’t stop their gutsy feat.

Phil said: “The toughest part was the Tumble climb to the mountain’s 512-metre summit. Our legs felt like jelly afterwards. Local villagers came out to support us and cheered us on.

“I think that countrywide, all air ambulances are fantastic.

“They are extremely important and are called upon when people need them most.

“They are able to fly to some of the most remote places and are invaluable.”

Mandy Drake, head of fundraising at GNAAS said: “We are extremely grateful to the brothers for their effort in this challenge. Their vital funds will keep our helicopter up in the air.”