A HAMPSHIRE woman is preparing to take part in this year's London Marathon in honour of her mother who lives with a life-limiting condition.  

Jo Walters, 36, will be running 26.2 miles to raise awareness and fund research for two different causes very close to her heart - Scleroderma and Raynaud's. 

Jo's mother is one of approximately 19,000 people in the UK who live with Scleroderma. The condition occurs when the body’s immune system becomes overactive and begins to attack healthy tissue, causing hardening of the skin and, in some cases, other organs. 

READ MORE: Sherfield School pupil Travis Moore is British tetrathlon champion

She said: “I’ve always dreamt of running the London Marathon and with my mum turning 70 this year I wanted to do it in her honour. I’ve seen first-hand the huge impact of scleroderma on my mother's life and how a lack of awareness meant she went undiagnosed for far too long.  

“It’s been hard seeing what my mum has gone through – her pain levels are through the roof at the moment and she needs surgery later this year. Running the marathon is my way of showing her I care and I also want to help ensure that others receive the right diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible.” 

Jo herself lives with Raynaud’s, a chronic and painful condition that affects blood circulation, most commonly in the hands and feet.

She first noticed signs of the condition when she was in her mid-teens and the condition has made training for the upcoming marathon more difficult. 

But, the personal trainer from Alton emphasised that she is "determined to keep going!"

Jo has so far raised £280 of her £2,000 target for Scleroderma and Raynaud's UK (SRUK). 

SEE MORE: Canine Cottages looking for Canine Critic to go on cottage breaks

Sue Farrington, SRUK chief executive, said: "We are incredibly grateful to Jo for her commitment to raising awareness of scleroderma and Raynaud's and helping us fund research to improve diagnosis and find new treatments and cures.

"These conditions can have a profound impact on people's lives and the money raised by Jo will go a long way to make a real difference to those affected. We wish Jo all the best for the marathon and hope her training continues to go well." 

To make a donation to Jo's fundraising page, go to 2023tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/jo-walters.