A disabled mum will walk two million steps in agonising pain on crutches in a bid to save her daughter from being left paralysed by a rare brain disorder.

Susan MacPherson’s daughter Charlotte has to use a wheelchair because of a condition known as Chiari malformation. This causes a hernia of her cerebellum (at the back of the brain), that puts pressure on her brain and spine.

Now Susan, of Cemaes, Anglesey, who herself suffers a painful joint condition, will complete a 630-mile coastal walk to raise £30,000.

She hopes to use the money to pay for 24-year-old Charlotte to be treated in America.

The 99-day walk around the Cornish coastline starts on Susan’s 56th birthday on March 3, and she’ll be camping out over the entire challenge.

She said: “The family are worried about me doing this but when it is for your children you will do anything to help them – I can’t leave any stone unturned in an effort to help her.

“If we do not treat Charlotte the condition will just get worse. She is already in a wheelchair but she has an independent life at the moment and she makes the most of her life. If this keeps progressing she could lose her feeling in her whole body. If we can do anything to help her we want to do it.”

Both Susan and Charlotte suffer with the hereditary Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which causes agonising daily dislocations of their fingers, elbows and shoulders.

Despite Charlotte also developing Chiari malformation in the last four years, she has been able to go to Swansea Metropolitan University with her support dog Mac to study fine art. Susan, who is studying fine art in Bangor, said: “She has always had an amazingly positive attitude for life and this inspired me to try and do this for her. The walk will be very painful but I have to do something.

“Charlotte will be there as the support driver all the way, she wants to do something to help raise this money and feels she is helping herself rather than relying on other people.”

Money raised from the Two Million Steps challenge will pay for Charlotte to travel to the Chiari Institute in New York, where she could undergo surgery to relieve pressure on her skull and spine. Cash remaining will go to the Action Medical Research Group, which researches serious childhood conditions. People can sponsor Susan 10p a step for however many steps they choose. Susan said: “There is the potential to raise £200,000.”

For more on the trip or to sponsor Susan log onto twomillionsteps.com or call 01407 710 173.

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