A mother determined not to let a neurological condition get her down is preparing for a 12 day walk to raise money for charity.

Debbie Bird, who grew up in Potters Bar, moved to Australia 20 years ago after she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at 24.

The 46-year-old will return to England to take part in Wainright’s Coast2Coast 188 mile Walk to help support MS charities next year.

She said: “The Wainwright walk is on very uneven ground and we have the British weather to contend with. We have to walk up to 42kms a day.

“I have no doubt it will be hard but I also refuse to entertain the idea that it cannot be done. I have promised myself that I am going to do all I can to be as fit as I can by the time we leave.”

Kiss Goodbye to MS, based in Australia, and the MS Society in the UK have joined forces to hold the event.

Mrs Bird and other participants will walk from St Beens in Cumbria on August 30 to the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors before finishing at Robin Hood’s Bay.

The nursing home director’s symptoms include numbness in her legs and arms, struggles to walk and can sometimes have blurred vision.

But despite her condition, she is able to keep fit and is determined to life live to the full.

She added: “A diagnosis of MS is no picnic, but I have learnt there are many things worse. I choose to believe it has opened up more doors than it has closed.

“With the exception of scuba diving, MS has not stopped me from doing anything I have wanted to do - I am richly blessed.

“I want to reach out and inspire and give hope to others, and raise money for a cure - which I truly believe may not be far away.”