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Pride In Medway 2009 - Lisa Edmonds

A mum has been put forward for a Pride in Medway award for her efforts to raise awareness of her son's medical condition.

Lisa Edmonds' son Cameron suffers from a muscle-wasting disease called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

His condition will leave him severely disabled and in need of full-time care by the time he turns 18.

Since Cam was diagnosed in 2003, Lisa has raised more than £30,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign by organising sponsored walks and making and selling her own cards. Most recently she has also started raising money for a second charity - Action Duchenne.

But Lisa's biggest fund-raising challenge came when she set her sights on making her eight-year-old son's dream come true.

Cam had always wanted to go to Australia so Lisa booked the six-week trip then set about organising fund-raising events to pay the £10,800 bill.

But just five weeks before the final balance was due the family was still £5,800 short.

The Medway Messenger launched a campaign to help them realise the youngster's dream and the cash was raised with just one day to spare, thanks to the generosity of our readers.

Mrs Edmonds, of Edinburgh Road, Chatham, said: "It's all about raising awareness of Cameron's condition.

"I mean no disrespect to any other charities when I say that everyone has heard of the local children's charity or certain cancer charities but mention the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign or Action Duchenne and people don't know what it is.

"I've got so many fund-raising ideas for next year already and the sponsored walk I held on September 24 at Shorne Wood Country Park in Gravesend turned out to be so popular that I'm now making that an annual event.

"I've recently heard from a mum in Rochester who has a six-year-old son with the same condition as Cameron so we've decided to join forces and help raise money for the two charities.

"Cam's condition has deteriorated slightly since we came back from Oz but he's doing OK."

Lisa was nominated for the Outstanding Achievement category by her neighbour Barbara Ongley, who was impressed with Lisa's commitment and effort to fund-raising.

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