"I was told I'd never have children": PCOS sufferer to walk 100 miles to raise money - with her baby in a sling

The 33 year old mum-of-two from Preston, is a volunteer and runs a support group for Verity, a charity that supports ladies with Polycystic Ovaries Syndrome.

With September marking awareness month for the condition, Laura will be walking a difficult 100 miles for the cause, all whilst carrying her baby in a sling.

"The charity haven't got an income and it is ran completely by volunteers. I want to do this to raise awareness and some money to support them to help with printing of posters, advertisements and their yearly conferences," she said.

"Verity is a self-help group for women with PCOS and I just wanted to do something to raise some more awareness of their work. I love walking and often go on beautiful walks as a family to the coast because it can often be hard to keep my two little girls entertained. When the idea came to me it just made sense."

Come rain or shine, Laura is determined to continue battling through the 100 mile feat to fundraise for the work that Verity, The Polycystic Ovaries Self Help Group do for women in the UK.

She has volunteered and been a local group leader for the Lancashire Verity charity for seven years and is eager to continue showing her support to the clause that is close to her heart, after being diagnosed with the condition aged 17.

"I have been a PCOS sufferer for over 15 years. It’s taken me this long to overcome the embarrassment and insecurity the symptoms have caused me and to accept that although PCOS is treatable, it cannot be cured," she said.

"I was told that I could never have children which was so shocking at that young age. I have been very lucky to be able to have two daughters, but I know how it feels to be told you may never have any children of your own. The groups help women who haven't been as lucky or who are in their 40s and 50s and would find it much more difficult to have children now.

"We meet up with women going through the same symptoms and problems that we have been through and are all there to support each other. It is every little girls' dream to be like their mum and have children and a family of their own. I wish I’d have known about the work of Verity then to reassure me that the symptoms were treatable instead of keeping it bottled up."

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is the name given to a condition where a woman has small cysts located just below the surface of the ovaries. These cysts are egg-containing follicles that have not developed properly due to a number of hormonal abnormalities.

Affecting up to 10 percent of women in the UK and millions worldwide, it can often run in families and is one of the leading causes of fertility problems in women. If not managed properly, the condition can lead to additional health problems later in life.

Throughout September, Laura will be completing 100 miles of walking, whilst carrying her youngest in a sling. Donations can be made at her Just Giving page.