A Macclesfield mum is lacing up her running shoes as she prepares to run the London Marathon.

Helen Vye's son, 20-month-old Owen, has Autoimmune Neutropenia, a very rare condition that affects one in 100,000 newborns.

The blood disorder causes the body's immune system to attack its own blood cells, which help fight infection.

To thank the staff at Macclesfield Hospital for their support, Helen is taking on the London Marathon in aid of East Cheshire NHS Charity.

She said: "When Owen was eight months old, he was diagnosed with Autoimmune Neutropenia, which makes him more vulnerable to severe bacterial infections, and ever since we've been frequently in and out of hospital.  

"What has made a huge difference to Owens' stays in hospital has been the care we've received on the Children's Ward at Macclesfield Hospital, where the staff go above and beyond to put a smile on his face. 

"And one thing we noticed is very often it's the little things that make a big impact when caring for a child on the ward.

"This includes toys to play with and iPads to use when distracting him from uncomfortable procedures.

"These things are often provided by the East Cheshire NHS Charity, so I'm proud to be fundraising for them, specifically the Children's Ward."

Owen meeting the emotional support dogs on the Children's Ward (Credit: NHS)

Helen, who works for multinational professional services network KPMG, added: "So, come April, I'll be lacing up my running shoes to run the London Marathon, my first and only marathon.

"It's going to be a huge challenge for me, but a very worthwhile one as I'll be both raising awareness of Autoimmune Neutropenia and raising money for the charity."

Helen's fundraising page can be found here.