A YOUNG boy will be pushing himself to the limit as he competes in an obstacle course for charity.

Lewis Atchison, seven, of Queens Drive, decided to test his strength after learning that his mum, Emma, had been diagnosed with functional neurological disorder (FND).

FND is a condition where a person suffers neurological symptoms similar to multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s and epilepsy but not caused by structural damage or degeneration of the nervous system. Those with FND appear to lose the ability to control or access their body normally.

The ‘basic wiring’ of the nervous system is intact, but when people with FND try to use it to move, feel or think, they cannot get access to it normally. In August last year, Emma was diagnosed with this disorder after she woke up one morning with spreading numbness and stroke-like symptoms down the left side of her body.

She said: “I had never heard of FND before I was diagnosed and it is the second most common neurological condition. There is no cure and this condition is unpredictable. I was in a wheelchair in August but now I can walk again. I’m slowly trying to gain my strength back so I can do a lot more out of the house.

“Lewis could see the impact the diagnosis had on our family life. Last June me and my husband Lee competed in the Total Warriors obstacle course and Lewis asked us if he could compete this year, and he asked if he could raise money for FNDAction, a charity who support those with this condition.”

Lewis will be competing in the Junior Total Warriors 3k course on June 22 and his race will include climbing, crawling through tunnels and wading through freezing water.

Emma said Lewis is excited to compete and is taking his training for the event seriously. She said: “He’s going for runs and training hard at karate to keep up his fitness. I am really chuffed to see how dedicated he is.”

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