By Caroline Welch

Charity patron Annie Maw has successfully climbed Glastonbury Tor in a wheelchair in a huge fundraising "push" for Festival Medical Services.

Annie, the former Lord Lieutenant of Somerset, had never been to the top of the 158-metre (518 foot) iconic landmark – even before she had her horse-riding accident in 2002 which led to her becoming a wheelchair-user.

But on Saturday she was helped to the summit by Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, on what was, fittingly, National Firefighters Day.  

Annie was determined to succeed – both to support other wheelchair-users who face challenges in everyday life, and to raise money on behalf of Festival Medical Services (FMS) – the Somerset-based charity which delivers nursing and medical care at Glastonbury Festival and other outdoor events around the UK. 

Organisers FMS intend to give the sponsorship money Annie has raised – currently standing at more than £13,000 - to two other medical charities. They have been doing this throughout their 45-year existence and have raised nearly £1.5 million for medical projects in the UK and around the world.

The money will be split between Motivation and Humanity & Inclusion. Motivation is an international disability and inclusion charity, based in Bristol. They provide wheelchairs, training and support to empower disabled people in Africa and India to gain independence, improve their confidence and transform their own lives. 

Former nurse Annie said: "I had the most amazing experience of being up there, which is an extraordinary, unique place. 

"The team of about 20 Devon and Somerset firefighters took it in turns to push and pull me with ropes up the path which was 260 steps and almost perpendicular in places.

"I was quite fearful beforehand, but actually on the day I was not frightened at all because the firefighters are the most unpanicked people you could ever meet. 

"I took on this challenge for two reasons. Firstly, I wanted to highlight that being a wheelchair-user can bring many difficulties in getting around to places that able-bodied people take for granted – but we must keep pushing the boundaries and proving there is more and more we can achieve.

"Secondly, I did it to tell the world about Festival Medical Services as they head into the festival season in 2024. They are the most incredible, generous people who work voluntarily at festivals because they want to send funds to other voluntary organisations bringing medical care into countries where people are suffering from wars and natural disasters and are in desperate need of wheelchairs. 

"I always wanted to help someone with the same injury as me somewhere else in the world because there are 100 million people in the world who need wheelchairs who haven't got them. Even if we only put enough money together to get a few people a wheelchair, that's better than none, so I feel elated." 

Annie's sponsorship page is still open for donations at: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/access-all-areas