A CUMNOCK woman is tackling the world’s highest zipwire to raise money after her mum was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease.

Wendy Williams will be undertaking the challenge in France and will also be skiing as far as she can in one day to make the fundraiser even more physically demanding.

She wants to highlight the importance of making the most of our physical abilities while we can as MND has a devastating impact on the physical capabilities of sufferers.

Wendy, who is a teacher in Ayr,has followed a personal training regime at the Bannatyne health club and has organised a Body Attack class at the club to involve her supportive fellow members in the fundraising activities.

Wendy has followed a personal training regime at the Bannatyne health club in Ayr and has organised a Body Attack class at the club to involve her supportive fellow members in the fundraising activities.

Motor Neurone Disease is a rapidly progressing terminal illness, which stops signals from the brain reaching the muscles. It can cause an individual to lose the ability to walk, talk, eat, drink or breathe unaided. There is currently no cure or effective treatment for MND and the average life expectancy from diagnosis is just 20 months.

On average almost 200 people are diagnosed each year in Scotland, 53% die within one year of diagnosis and only 6.5% live for more than 5 years after diagnosis.* There are more than 450 people in Scotland currently living with MND.

Wendy said: “Though I am looking forward to the challenge, I’m not at all keen on heights so this will certainly be a mental barrier to overcome.

“My ever so lovely husband also suggested that I try and ski as far as I can in one day, which will be a physical challenge for me as I have skied in the past, but only recreationally and I’ve never pushed myself to the limit.

“This charity is really important to my family and I, and I’d love to be able to raise as much money as possible to help with the amazing work it does.”

Iain McWhirter, head of fundraising at MND Scotland, said: “I’d like to thank Wendy for taking on this huge personal challenge for MND Scotland. It’s people like Wendy who allow us to continue providing vital support to everyone in Scotland affected by MND, as well as funding research towards a cure.

“This will be a fantastic achievement, and an experience of a lifetime. It’s great that Wendy also has the support of her local gym and its members, and everyone at MND Scotland will be cheering her on too.”