A Norfolk woman has put in an effort fit for a superhero to raise more than �7,000 for the air ambulance, as her way of saying thank you after the charity saved her life.

Catherine Edgington swam, kayaked, cycled and ran her way around a gruelling course to complete the Norfolk Superhero Challenge.

The 44-year-old, from Langham, swam a mile, kayaked four miles, cycled 45 miles and ran eight miles along the north Norfolk coast, raising �7,287 for the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA), with some more donations still to collect.

Miss Edgington, who runs the Big Blue Sky shop in Wells, was walking her dog and her mother's dog along the coast between Stiffkey and Morston when she was stung several times by a swarm of bees, suffering a severe allergic reaction.

She managed to stumble to her mother's home nearby, where she collapsed in the kitchen.

The next thing she remembers is waking up in intensive care, but she believes the speed in which the EAAA was able to whisk a critical care paramedic and doctor out to the scene, and then fly her to hospital, helped to save her life.

She said: 'Anyone who knows me will tell you the superhero is not something I would normally have taken part in. Too competitive and too much all at once, plus I really hate running, and still do. I have been on the superhero committee for a few years now, but nothing had prepared me for what it was really like to take part. Luckily most of the bad bits have been forgotten now and overrun by the highlights and the amazing support from my family friends and the other competitors. It took us seven-and-a-half hours and we felt every minute of it.'

Miss Edgington is backing the EDP's LifeSaver appeal, which was launched to help the charity buy �50,000 of equipment.

You can tell us about fundraising events to support the campaign by emailing newsdesk@archant.co.uk. Cheques, made payable to the 'East Anglian Air Ambulance' can be sent to: EDP Appeal, East Anglian Air Ambulance, Hangar E, Gambling Close, Norwich Airport, Norwich NR6 6EG. For advice on holding an event, contact the charity on 0845 066 9999, or visit www.eaaa.org.uk