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Hannah Binns, who worked at ²ÝÁñÉçÇø Guardian between 2020 and 2022, is training to run the 2025 TCS London Marathon fundraising for The Firefighters Charity following a traumatic hit and run car crash on the M6 last December. 

During the accident, Hannah was spun across the lanes of the motorway, through oncoming traffic, smashing through a carriageway barrier, and was subsequently trapped in her upside-down car in a wood alongside the M6. 

"As I was spinning across the motorway I held onto the steering wheel and thought ‘this is how I die'," said Hannah. 

"I was screaming, praying, hoping for the best, and when I came to a stop, I was upside-down wedged between two trees, trapped inside my car."

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Upside down in the dark and without access to her mobile phone, which had been flung from the car into the woodland, Hannah was unable to call for help and depended on the car's SOS button and sounding the horn until help arrived. 

"After around 20 minutes, which felt like hours alone in the dark, I heard the sirens and started to honk the horn to get the attention of the fire fighters," said Hannah. 

"The crew did a tremendous job of calming me down and getting me out of my vehicle safely and quickly. 

"They helped lower my blood pressure and manage the shock by talking to me about farming as one of the fire fighters was a farmer's son. They also found items in the wreckage, photographed the scene and recovered my phone. 

"Most importantly they spoke to my family to let them know I was alive."

Growing up in a farming community, Hannah was acutely aware of the invaluable service that fire fighters provide. 

From saving livestock to tackling farm fires, the farming community depends on the fire service to help in our worst moments.

"I can never repay them for their services in my hour of need but as a keen runner, I am honoured to be raising money for The Fire Fighters Charity," said Hannah.

"Firefighters help us in our hour of need and this charity helps them."

Hannah has a target of raising £2,250 before the London Marathon in April and has currently raised just over £1,200. 

If you would like to donate and support Hannah and The Fire Fighter Charity, you can contribute via Hannah's JustGiving page .

The Fire Fighters Charity offers specialist lifelong health and wellbeing support for the UK fire and rescue community, empowering individuals and families to achieve mental, physical and social wellbeing throughout their lives. 

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