A MOTHER whose son has successfully battled a rare and life-threatening illness has braved a Tough Mudder challenge with her colleagues to raise money for charity.

About 20 A&E workers from Royal Blackburn Hospital joined Chantel Ormerod in tackling swamp-like mud and deep bogs during the extreme 12-mile obstacle course in Skipton on Sunday.

MORE TOP STORIES:

The group also raised money for a charity which supports bereaved parents who have lost a child.

Levi Ormerod, 23, contracted the rare blood disease aplastic anaemia through a chicken pox infection in July last year and, after recovering after a stem cell transplant in May, has now been cancer-free for more than 100 days.

The disease affects about one or two people in every two million.

His mum, a senior sister at the hospital, said Levi spent a month in hospital after the transplant and is now making daily visits to Manchester Royal Infirmary to have blood transfusions.

Miss Ormerod, 40, of Trawden, said: “The first 100 days after the transplant is the most critical time.

“He was doing really well, but has relapsed so they are trying him on some new medication.

“You do not know how it is going to go, but a lot of people go on to lead normal lives.

“Some people have the medication long term and for some it tapers off. He will be on antibiotics forever and will have to have regular check-ups.”

She said she had never heard of the condition until Levi contracted it and decided to do the Tough Mudder to help raise awareness.

Miss Ormerod said: “We’ve done a few different things for charity and this year we thought we would do it for The Aplastic Anaemia Trust. It’s all for a good cause.

“I was doing a lot of running until his transplant. I’m determined to do it though. It’s all about teamwork and we will get ourselves round it.”

The group will also raise money for 4Louis which provides memory boxes for parents whose children have passed away.

Ruth O’Neill, 33, a healthcare assistant from Clitheroe, said the department give them to all parents who have lost a child and they contain hand or foot prints, teddy bears, locks of hair and seeds to plant.

She said: “We are all really excited about the event and we’re working as a team to raise money. If we can get through A&E we can get through Tough Mudder.”

In preparation for the Tough Mudder, the group has been put through their paces by a colleague who used to be in the Territorial Army.

To sponsor the team, please visit justgiving.com and search RBH Team ED’S Tough Mudder Yorkshire page and TeamED Tough Mudder Yorkshire 2016.