A mother-of-two who set up a Chorley-based charity which has transformed hundreds of children’s lives, is in the running for a top award.

Joanne Mawdsley, whose children both suffer from a life threatening and rare genetic disorder, has been chosen as a finalist for the national Extraordinary Women Awards.

Joanne, who set up children’s charity, The Legacy Rainbow House, has made it into the final three in the Extraordinary Personal Endeavour category.

Rainbow House, a children’s charity based in Mawdesley, currently helps 172 disabled children per week.

The youngsters suffer from many conditions such as cerebral palsy, brain damage at birth and acquired brain injury.

Joanne is the mother of two boys, William, 14, and Thomas, 12, who suffer from a rare and life threatening genetic disorder.

She was told that her children would have limited brain function but was determined to prove doctors wrong.

She said: “I was sad and angry, but determined my sons would improve.

“I knew that exercising helped them, but I needed a more constructive approach to their treatment.

“I researched conductive education, a unified system of rehabilitation for children with neurological conditions.

“Within three months my son William had been taught how to sit and crawl, which I believe to be a miracle.

“He had been unable to lift his head or sit on his first day.”

Joanne opened Rainbow House in April 2001 with six local children.

Within three years it became a charity and in 2007 Rainbow House opened its first school, called The Legacy.

Last year The Legacy taught 12 children under the age of three how to walk and helped integrate six children into local schools.

Joanne continues to be the driving force behind the services – hence her award nomination.

If Joanne wins her category, she could then win the coveted Extraordinary Woman of the Year 2010 Award, to be given to the most outstanding woman from all five categories.

Extraordinary Women organiser Vicki Espin said: “We have again been amazed at the outstanding level of nominations this year.

“Joanne is extraordinary and has achieved so much.”

Extraordinary Women is a not-for-profit organisation so, with all funds raised going to their chosen charity, the NSPCC.