GOLFERS raised £14,000 for Oxfordshire’s air ambulance service.

Frilford Heath Golf Club members did fundraising activities including abseiling down the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

They presented this giant cheque to volunteer fundraisers Janet and Ray Dawson on Tuesday.

Mrs Dawson, 68, of Cherry Tree Close, Grove, said: “The fact they have raised all this money is brilliant.”

Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance (TVACAA) is not funded by Government or the National Lottery. It relies on donations totalling £2.5m a year to keep saving lives, including carrying patients between hospitals.

Grandfather-of-one Mr Dawson, 72, said: “We want to thank all the people who support us.

“If they didn’t we wouldn’t get the money and there are people who wouldn’t survive if it wasn’t for the air ambulance.”

Mr and Mrs Dawson, both retired, raised £6,500 themselves by shaking buckets and holding stalls at events throughout 2013.

Since 1999, the air ambulance has carried out more than 14,500 missions.

Oxfordshire fundraising manager for the air ambulance Eleanor Green said: “We have been completely overwhelmed by the generosity of all the members of Frilford Heath, especially captains Sue Russell and Mike Chapman.

“We need £7,500 every day to run so this donation of £14,000 has potentially saved six lives.”