A former marathon runner who is suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS) is hoping pioneering treatment abroad may give her back her mobility.
Frances O’Connell, 46, of Caol in Lochaber, was diagnosed with the debilitating condition almost 20 years ago, but continued distance running until about six years ago.
MS can affect the brain and/or spinal cord, causing a wide range of symptoms, including problems with vision, arm or leg movement, sensation or balance.
Mrs O’Connell, who has two grandchildren and works part-time at the local Gaelic nursery, initially suffered blurred vision, but she now has difficulty getting around.
And her family has launched a campaign to raise £40,000 to pay for her to receive stem cell treatment.
Her daughter Siobhan Duncan, 28, who also lives in Caol, said: “She always wanted to keep going and she did for as long as she could, but she has really gone down hill in the last four or five years and it is so hard to watch.
“Just walking up and down the stairs completely takes it out of her now. She’s practically crawling up and down sometimes.
“She is the most lovely person. She looks at things so positively and always puts other people first.”
But Mrs Duncan decided it was time to put her mum first after they watched a TV programme about stem cell treatment for MS sufferers together.
She said: “It’s made a huge difference to the people who have had it, some who were wheelchair bound are now able to walk to the shops and back.
“When my mum saw it, her eyes lit up and there was a big smile on her face.
“I couldn’t just sit back and do nothing so I thought we would give it a try.
“It’s a lot of money so we’re hoping to raise as much as we can with the appeal, then we will just have to find the rest by other means.”
The treatment, which is not available in the UK, is carried out in a number of other countries, including Russia and Australia, but the family has yet to decide where Mrs O’Connell would go to receive it.
Mrs Duncan launched a JustGiving appeal, called Fighting for Frances, which has so far raised around £3,500, and various fund-raising events are being held locally.