A paralysed mum and her daughter are set to take on a 400km push and run challenge in May, as they aim to raise crucial funds for Spinal Research.

Living in Chearsley near Thame, Sally Poulson suffered a spinal stroke 14 years ago and has been a wheelchair user since.

Ms Poulson has recalled the day, as she said: "I was driving to pick my son up from Scouts and my legs suddenly went a bit dead and I started to feel unwell.

"Within 10 minutes of getting back home, I couldn’t move my legs and we were heading to hospital."

She also said: "Part of the cartilage in one of my discs had come away and, unusually, had lodged between my spine and spinal cord causing a spinal stroke.

"You’re twice as likely to win the Euro Millions as you are for this to happen to you."

Ms Poulson, 59, was keen on fitness before her spinal stroke.

However, it took her substantial time and courage to re-incorporate exercise into her life after her ordeal.

During the pandemic she began active wheeling and is now all set for the marathon May fundraising challenge with her daughter, Emily.

She plans to complete 200km in her wheelchair and she has said: "I was delighted that my daughter has caught the running bug too we’re really want to raise as much as possible to create a little more hope for others like me who suffer spinal cord injuries.

"This world is not really designed for wheelchair users and only pushing on with research can we open up opportunities for improvements in our lives."

Ms Poulson, now a managing director at children's publisher Priddy Books, continued to fulfil her work responsibilities despite her condition.

She even plans to meet part of the 200km challenge while on a work visit to New York in mid-May.

Her daughter, located in Bath, is also geared up for the cause and hopes to complete 200km, mostly around her home.

Despite the challenge she has said that it is a "lovely thing" for them to do together.

Spinal Research chief executive, Louisa McGinn, said: "Sally is an inspiration and it’s brilliant that she and her amazing daughter have come up with a fundraising challenge they can do together.

"We’re in touching distance of function restoring treatments for people paralysed after a spinal cord injury and we really appreciate every single donation that brings our vision of curing paralysis a step closer."

To donate to Sally and Emily's challenge, follow this link https://www.justgiving.com/page/emily-poulson-1706195905067.