MOTHER and daughter Karen and Bethan Lance, from Haslemere, are taking part in the Brighton Half-Marathon at the end of the month to raise vital funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital children’s charity.

The two are determined to raise funds for the charity after seeing the care Great Ormond Street (GOSH) has given to Lucy Constable and her son Freddie.

Four-year-old Freddie has primary bilateral congenital glaucoma and has been under the London hospital’s care since he was three months old.

He has had eight eye operations and needs up to 12 eye drops a day.

As a result of some of his medication Freddie has developed cataracts and also adrenal suppression. He has also developed an extreme fear of anything medical which has in turn impacted on his day-to-day life.

Bethan, 19, said: “It will be a big challenge for me to run a half-marathon as I have never run that far before – but I am motivated by the fact I am doing it for a great cause.

“I know Lucy is really grateful for the treatment and support from GOSH and over the past few years they have done some amazing fundraising for the hospital.

“Lucy and Freddie’s efforts to give back to GOSH have been truly inspirational and I would love to help their efforts.”

Lucy, who used to babysit Bethan, who now is babysitting Freddie, said: “More than ever the hospital needs fund to keep up with the growing demand.

“I know first hand what a difference the recent developments to the hospital have made. GOSH has saved Freddie’s sight and so I have raised funds for them in the name of Team Freddie – now Bethan is doing the same.

“I am really touched and thrilled that Bethan and Karen are raising money for Great Ormond Street, especially under the name of Team Freddie. We are so lucky to have such an amazing children’s hospital.

“The ongoing support we receive is truly amazing.”

Lucy originally started fundraising for the hospital by setting up a Just Giving page so friends and family could donate instead of buying birthday presents.

She then became involved in a number of campaigns to raise funds for the hospital, including the RBC Race For The Kids 5K last year, when a team of 10 under the name Team Freddie raised more than £2,000.

Freddie was also featured in a hospital promotion urging people to hold bake sales for the “Bake it Better” campaign.

Primary bilateral congenital glaucoma is a rare eye disease which only affects one in 10,000 infants.

It is caused by increased pressure inside the eye due to build-up of fluid which does not drain properly.

This increased pressure causes damage to the optic nerve at the back of the eye which then results in irreversible sight loss.

The London hospital treats children with rare diseases such as glaucoma and provides inspirational and world-class care to hundreds of children every day.

GOSH needs more than £90million every year to help give hope to very sick children and their families.

If you wish to sponsor Bethan and Karen for the run on Sunday, February 28, visit www.justgiving.com/ Beth-Lance/