TWO Basingstoke campaigners have had their crusade backed by a Paralympian who is set to dedicate one of her races in Rio to their cause.

Michelle Williams and Lisa Slaymaker, the duo behind a campaign urging the Government to back a nationwide Brain Aneurysm Awareness Day, received support from Team GB cyclist Megan Giglia, a survivor of the brain condition.

Megan will dedicate a race in honour of Michelle and Lisa’s Soul Sisters campaign when she takes to the Rio velodrome this week.

“Lisa and I feel overwhelmed and honoured to have the support of Megan,” Michelle told The Gazette.

“It means so much to us to have the support and backing of anyone impacted by brain aneurysms and subarachnoid haemorrhage, but even more so to have the support of Megan because we found her whole story of survival and recovery so inspiring.

“The fact she is now representing Team GB at the Paralympics is wonderful. 

“It is so motivational and inspiring, not only for us in our fight to raise more awareness about the condition, but also for all other brain aneurysms victims and survivors.”

Michelle added: “Megan said she would like to dedicate the 500m TT sprint to us, as she says it is such a quick race that it can signify the speed of quick onset symptoms and the fact that with ruptured brain aneurysm can cause lives to be lost and changed in seconds.”

Michelle and Lisa met after The GazetteThe Gazette published Michelle’s story on her experience of having a ruptured brain aneurysm, which led to the 47-year-old business owner requiring life-saving surgery.

Lisa’s mother passed away in 2012 after suffering with a similar condition and she contacted Michelle to praise her fighting spirit.

Currently they are on a quest to visit each golden postbox, awarded to every gold medal winning Olympian and Paralympian at London 2012, and send a postcard to the Prime Minister encouraging the Ggovernment to support the campaign.

Megan told the Soul Sisters: “You ladies are doing an amazing thing and I will back you in any way possible. I love the gold postbox theme, sure I can seek a postbox out up here although will be even better if I can bag one of my own following Rio . . . we will see.”

To learn more about Michelle and Lisa’s campaign visit soulsistersuk.com.