A STOURBRIDGE couple successfully completed the Great Birmingham Run with friends to raise money for research into a rare neurological disorder which their daughter suffers with.

Emily Marsden and husband Dave Gilbert, together with Emily's sister Jennie and a group of their friends from around the country, took on the 13.1-mile Simplyhealth half marathon on Sunday October 15 to raise cash for Reverse Rett.

The UK based medical research charity works to speed up treatments and find a cure for Rett Syndrome, which has left their three-year-old daughter Daisy Gilbert (pictured below) severely disabled.

Stourbridge News:

Emily, a mental health nurse, said: “Research into rare conditions like Rett Syndrome gets little or no government funding so we have to try our best to raise money and awareness ourselves.

"She said the charity has been a huge support since Daisy was diagnosed with the condition at the age of two and she added: “They provide hope for the future of girls suffering with this nasty condition.

"Whilst we love and adore Daisy just as she is, we would do anything to make life easier and more enjoyable for her.“

All money raised will go directly towards funding ground breaking scientific research into the condition, with hope for a cure being on the horizon.”

The team have raised more than £5,000 and anyone still wishing to make a donation towards the cause can do so online at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rundaisydot.

Emily added that without a cure Daisy – who has a healthy twin sister Martha – “is likely to need 24-hour care for the rest of her life” as she cannot walk or talk, she has difficulty eating and drinking and she has developed epilepsy.