A NURSE is braving a 307ft abseil from the top of a 17-storey hospital to raise money for an air ambulance charity.

Holly Parish, of Gordon Road, South Woodford, signed up for the terrifying task of abseiling from the top of the Royal London Hospital six weeks ago.

The 29-year-old decided to take the plunge after she saw an advert for the London Air Ambulance (LAA) fundraiser on social media and was surprised to find they are only partly funded by the NHS.

The mother-of-one said: “I didn’t realise how little funding they get – I was really shocked.

“They do such an important job, especially in London, I see them flying over where I live all the time, and their work saves so many lives.”

Ms Parish is one of hundreds of people who are taking on the challenge, which starts 307ft above the ground from the hospital’s helipad – the highest in Europe.

The nursing student, who is due to graduate and start work full-time next summer, has always been interested in LAA’s work.

The charity treats an average of five seriously injured patients every single day and relies heavily on public donations to be able to carry on providing emergency pre-hospital care for the 10 million people who live inside the M25.

Its helipad abseil is now in its fifth year, with previous participants including TV doctor Hilary Jones and EastEnders and Gavin and Stacey star Larry Lamb.

Each daredevil has to raise a minimum of £300, a target Ms Parish has nearly reached but is keen to exceed to help LAA staff as much as she can.

She added: “I’m really excited, I’ve only done scary theme park rides before, never anything like this.”

Charles Newitt deputy CEO of LAA said: "A huge thank you to Holly for taking part in our helipad abseil.

"As a charity, we rely on donations from the public so we can continue to provide an advanced trauma team to critically injured patients across London. 

"Our recent brand research found that two in three Londoners weren’t sure or weren’t aware that we are a charity, so our challenge is to raise awareness so we continue to deliver our service.

"Thank you to all those taking part in the abseil or supporting those that are.

"We simply wouldn’t be able to serve the people who live and work in London without your help and the money that you have raised."

Ms Parish’s abseil will take place on September 16.

To donate, or find out how you can involved, see the website.