A marathon runner has completed the ultimate challenge for a deeply personal cause.
Leah Diplock, 25, from Brighton, took part in the Brighton Marathon to raise funds for Spinal Research in support of her mother, who was left paralysed following a cycling accident five years ago.
Ms Diplock said: “We were enjoying a lovely day out and cycling on flat terrain when it all went horribly wrong.
“It was a devastating moment for her and all our family, and the journey since has been incredibly challenging.
“She is a quadriplegic and has very little movement in her arms and hands but, despite everything, Mum continues to show unbelievable strength, courage and resilience. She is just amazing.”
Her mother, Alison, spent eight months in hospital after the accident, during which the family could only visit briefly due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Ms Diplock was originally due to run the marathon last year.
She was forced to withdraw three weeks before the event due to injury.
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This year, she completed the full 26.2 miles, with her mother there to greet her at the finish line.
She said: “It was an incredible experience and really emotional at the end.
“Spinal Research is a charity that means a lot to me.
“The work they are doing is genuinely extraordinary and I hope people’s support for me will play a small part in helping move things forward.”
Spinal Research is the leading UK charity dedicated to curing paralysis by funding research into life-changing new treatments for spinal cord injuries.
Every two hours someone in the UK is paralysed after a spinal cord injury.
Suzanne Redding, Head of Audience and Community at Spinal Research, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Leah for being part of and every single pound raised will take us a step closer to our goal of curing paralysis.
“And with the first function restoring treatments now available and more breakthrough therapies coming, we really do need the funding to get these from the lab to people like Alison who need them.