A WEYMOUTH woman wants to raise awareness about epileptic conditions by completing a charity walk after she lost her baby nephew to the condition.

Mandy Burley, from Weymouth, is doing a 20-mile sponsored walk after her sister, Susan Reman-Carter, lost her 15-month-old son Ethan six weeks ago to epilepsy.

She said: “We didn’t even think it would be something you die from. We thought the risk was if they injured themselves during a fit, so we really want to raise awareness of conditions that are considered ‘everyday’ like epilepsy and asthma that in reality do take lives.

“We hear it so often, that if people take medicine they’ll be okay, but it’s not always the case.”

The 42-year-old dental hygienist is aiming to complete the 20-mile journey from Weymouth to Portland by power walking, starting at 8.30am at her home in Westham.

She hopes to complete the walk in four hours, and will then join the Royal Manor of Portland Athletics Club’s ‘Portland 10’ annual event going around the island and out to the Bill, finishing at IPACA.

She said: “After I completed the London Marathon I stopped running, which I used to do quite a lot. Since I’ve been doing this I’ve actually found I feel fitter than I did when I was running, so the challenge is not so much the distance as it is the time.

“It’s actually my husband’s birthday that day so hopefully we will all celebrate at the end with some cake.”

Mandy has already raised £2,500 for her chosen charity Epilepsy Research, but she’s hoping to reach her target by raising another £500 with the walk on July 6.

She has been training early in the mornings to fit around her full-time job and bringing up her two sons.

“I have been walking often and increasing my time as I go.

“I managed to walk 10 miles from Weymouth to Portland last weekend so I hope the day will be a success.

“My sons Harrison and Toby will be supporting me en route and my sister’s children Taylor, Hannah and baby Evie will be cheering me on in their Epilepsy Research shirts too.”

To donate to the cause visit: justgiving.com/amanda-burley2