A RUNNER has completed a number of challenges as she continues her efforts to raise vital funds to give her paralysed cousin a better quality of life.

Laura Anne is hoping that her fundraising campaign will catch the imagination and result in DIY SOS-style makeover of of Ollie Edge’s Darlington home.

Mr Edge suffered severe injuries when he fell from a tree when he was just 15-years-old and to mark his 30th birthday on Saturday Laura hopes that he will be able to celebrate some much-needed home improvements.

Laura, who was also 30 this year, said that it was a perfect time to make a difference.

She said: "I thought Ollie could really do with a special celebration to mark his 30th birthday and what better way to do that than try to raise some money to help make their home better for him.

"He doesn't have a wet room and his wheelchair is really uncomfortable for him but he never complains."

Laura's fundraising efforts have seen her already complete three half marathons and three 10km road races with her latest two runs being the 10km at Stockton's Great North City Games and the Great North Run.

She said: "Sometimes when I'm running I want to quit but I just think why I'm doing it and that always spurs me on to the end. If I can raise enough money to help Ollie have a better life then all of the pain will be worth it.

Despite relying on 24-hour care and the family bungalow on Whinfield Road, Darlington containing a variety of medical equipment, Ollie is determined that the family home remains exactly that.

"This is our family home," he said. "My mother does an amazing job of looking after me and I want this to remain a home for us all.

"This is about raising awareness of what happened to me and how my mum (Lynda) has dedicated her life to making sure I have the best life possible.

"It took me a long time to come to terms with what happened to me but it is what is and I just have to get on with my life.

"We are a very close family and no-one treats me any different despite being paralysed but what Laura is doing for me is amazing."

To support their fundraising campaign visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/run4ollie