A HEXHAM woman is spearheading a new challenge to raise awareness of radical new treatments that could provide hope for people suffering from a range of illnesses.

Vicki Dillon was one of 42 participants in a ground-breaking clinical trial to test whether a protein known as glial-cell derived neurotrophic factor was effective in treating Parkinson's.

The trial was also featured in a BBC documentary entitled The Parkinson's Drug Trial: A Miracle Cure?

Although the trial was unsuccessful, many of those involved wanted to see it continue.

To that end, many of the 42 are taking part in a unifying challenge in April to travel 100 miles and raise awareness of the need for a cure, and to raise funds to progress research and trials into the beneficial effects of neurotrophic factors, increasingly seen by science as having the potential for a cure.

Vicki has teamed up with Gaynor Edwards of Spotlight YOPD, a charity for people with young-onset Parkisnon's Disease, to complete the challenge.

She said: "We've been fighting since the end of the trial in 2017, when despite many of us getting amazing results the scientific community said it was a failure. It's a really exciting area of research - neutrophic factors could be used in treatments of other diseases like Alzheimers or MS.

"We've managed to get the three charities that were involved in financing the trial - Parkinson's UK, the Cure Parkinson's Trust, and Funding Neuro - all fighting for the same cause. Together we're stronger.

"100 miles between a team in ten days might not seem like much, but some days I can't get up the stairs our out the bath. People don't see that."

To support or take part in the challenge, get in touch via the Bring Back the Parkinson's Miracle Drug Facebook page.

The challenge takes place from April 1 - 10, in the run up to World Parkinson's Day on April 11.