A YOUNG woman who overcame life-changing injuries after being hit by a drunk driver has raised thousands of pounds for the charity that saved her life.

Former Tabor Academy student Tara McIntyre, 25, nearly died in a crash in High Garrett on February 9, 2014, when a drink-driver in a Mercedes crashed into the side of her Ford Ka.

The driver, Ben Hagon, was travelling at 60mph on the wrong side of the 40mph road and was jailed for two years and eight months at Chelms- ford Crown Court last year.

Miss McIntyre, of Vauxhall Drive, Braintree, was flown to Addenbro- oke’s Hospital, in Cambridge, by the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance with a severed aorta, a fractured spine and a severe brain injury.

She has been relearning how to walk and talk ever since.

To thank the people who saved her life, Miss McIntyre presented crew members with a cheque for £4,478.57 on Monday.

The cash was raised through a variety of fundraising events, including walking three miles around Earls Colne airfield, the home of the Air Ambulance, last October.

She said: “I really want to give something back because they saved my life.

“The afternoon went really well.

“Unfortunately I didn’t get to meet the crew that saved me because they left as their contracts are only for six months.

“I met a different crew and I saw the helicopter.

“I can walk using a walker and a few yards without one, but I practice every night with my dad.

“I’m in temporary accommodation now in a bungalow to see what I need, but I love it. I have my own exercise room.”

Nearly two-and-a-half years on, the former Braintree Council worker is still undergoing a rigorous rehabilitation schedule, including physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, speech therapy and personal training.

Having already completed her walk, a cake sale and a curry night, Miss Mcintyre has vowed to keep fundraising.

She said: “I’m not finished fundraising, I’m thinking about doing a bike ride and on Friday I’m doing a bucket collection in Colchester.

“Long term I really want to get back to working in an office like I was before.

“I have high hopes for that and I’m doing a college course in computers to get me started.

“I want to say thank you to the Swan and Tomo’s Tavern in Braintree for helping me with fundraising events.”

Sabi Blyth, Air Ambulance fundraising manager, thanked Tara for her efforts.

She said: “Congratulations to Tara for this magnificent achievement.

“As a charity, we are so grateful to receive such an incredible amount and are impressed with the courage and determination Tara has shown on her road to recovery,” she added.