A BASINGSTOKE mum who is preparing to run seven marathons in seven days is inviting people to join her for the last mile.

As previously reported in The Gazette, Nikki Savings was inspired to take on the charity challenge by a little boy called Frankie O’Connor, who suffers with an extremely rare brain condition.

Frankie was born with type two Pontocerebellar hypoplasia (PCH), which causes him to have seizures, limited mobility and no way of communicating.

It means he is unlikely to survive past childhood.

Nikki, a 31-year-old finance manager from Lychpit, will begin her marathon challenge on August 22 and finish seven days later on August 28, when she has invited the public to join her for the last stretch.

A family fun day is being held at the finish line, at Barton’s Mill, in Old Basing, from 5pm on August 28.

Nikki is raising money for The Joshua Deeth Foundation, which supports children and families with PCH.

She hopes as many people as possible will support her across the finish line, and will meet participants at 6.30pm at Old Basing Infants School for the last mile, when marshals will line the route.

She said: “We have less than two weeks now until I start the challenge.

“The finish at Barton’s Mill will be a huge family day.

“There will be a barbecue, live band and inflatables for children to play on.”

She added: “I want to encourage as many children as possible to show them that running is fun, fundraising makes a huge difference and they will also experience finishing under an inflatable finishing sign.”

Nikki also held a charity bake sale on August 8 at Basingstoke Parkrun, at War Memorial Park.

Funds raised will go towards her grand total, which has already reached more than £3,000.

She will have a support crew with her for the entire challenge, and details of her runs are soon to be announced on her Facebook page.

Nikki said: “I met Frankie and his family in July 2014 at a friend’s barbecue and was so touched by his story and how lovely his family was.

“I decided that I wanted to do something to help and make a difference.”

The mother-of-one has run marathons in the past, and so knew she needed a tough challenge to encourage people to sponsor her.

She said: “It needed to be something extreme to get people to support me and make a difference.”

She added: “I think it’s going to be really hard.

“The only thing that will get me through is the people who are helping me and I know how much it’s going to give to the charity and help Frankie’s family.”

Frankie’s parents, Debbie and James, found out when their son was just a few weeks old that he had PCH.

Thirty-five-year-old Debbie, from Kempshott, who also has two daughters, said her son has already endured 15 stays in hospital since he was born.

He relies on constant care and medication.

n To sponsor Nikki visit justgiving.com/Nikki-S.

n For more information about Frankie you can follow his story on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Frankies-Story/226877970846246.