A PERSHORE woman has chosen an energetic way to mark the year she turns 40 - completing an epic 40-mile fitness challenge.

Helen Carlisle, 39, will run the length of the Wychavon Way from Broadway to Droitwich on Sunday (April 19) in aid of a sick friend.

Her fundraising efforts will support Laura Brown, who has stage 3 Lyme disease and is hoping to undergo private treatment for the illness.

“I was inspired by Laura’s story”, said the long-distance runner.

“She lives with an alarming amount of difficult symptoms on a daily basis and, because she’s a wife and a mother-of-two, is desperate to regain control of her life and to be there for her family.

“I want to help Laura to raise money for her treatment, after she was told by the NHS that there is nothing they can do for her.

“Whilst I know that 40 miles is a long way and I fully respect the challenge, I feel that it is nothing compared to the pain and discomfort that Laura deals with on a daily basis.”

She added training for the challenge has been “tough”, involving “long, lonely and cold runs up hills and through muddy fields”, but she has pushed through injury and illness and is now making her final preparations.

Support from her running club – the Pershore Plum Plodders – has given her “the confidence to take on the challenge” and to “push that bit further”, while her belief in the cause has helped her through the hard times.

“Laura is an inspirational woman who, despite her many difficulties, remains upbeat and positive and refuses to be beaten by her illness”, added Helen Carlisle.

“She also campaigns tirelessly to raise awareness of the disease - a bacterial infection spread to humans by infected ticks - and to help prevent further people from suffering.”

Mrs Brown is similarly complimentary about her fundraising friend.

She said: “In 2014 I was lucky enough to spend three months receiving intensive treatment at a specialist clinic in the US.

“Their prediction is that I will need long-term treatment over several years if I am to have any possibility of achieving and maintaining remission.

“I am truly honoured and grateful that Helen would choose her own personal '40 miles at 40' challenge to help me raise funds to continue this medical care.

“It is a real testament to the amazing person that she is.”

To sponsor the 40-mile challenge visit youcaring.com/helencarlisle or to find out more about Mrs Brown’s fight with Lyme disease visit lauralyme.com