A HOOK woman and her friend are going on a trip across the nation with the aim of raising awareness for Soul Sisters UK.

The brain aneurysm awareness group was set up by Michelle Williams from Hook and Lisa Slaymaker from nearby Basingstoke.

Their ‘golden’ tour will see them visit each of the 81 celebratory golden post boxes which were decorated in 2012 in honour of all the Team GB gold medalists from the London Olympics and Paralympics.

At each post box, the two women will post a letter to various MPs and people of power, including Prime Minister David Cameron, urging them to support and introduce a Brain Aneurysm Awareness Day.

Michelle has featured in the Hook Herald before, where her story on her experience of having a ruptured brain aneurysm and her battle to recover was published.

It was through her story in various local press reports that the two met, became friends and set up the Soul sisters UK group.

While the 47 year old was currently living her experience, Lisa had been affected by the issue four years previously, when her mother passed away with a similar condition to Michelle’s.

So far on their journey which started on May 28, they have visited the post boxes of Olympic Rower Helen Glover, Sailor Ben Ainslie and Paralympian Swimmer Jonathan Fox, where they have sent letters to David Cameron, Jeremy Hunt, and CEO of NHS England, Simon Steven, respectively.

Soul Sisters UK is looking to gather 100,000 signatures for its petition by August 25 this year, which would mean the petition will be discussed in Parliament, while 10,000 will see the government respond to the petition.

Ruptured brain aneurysms are fatal in about 40 per cent of cases, and of those who survive, about 66 pre cent suffer some permanent neurological deficit.

There are almost 500,000 deaths worldwide each year caused by brain aneurysms with half of the victims aged 50 and younger.

Michelle said: “In January 2016 I was suddenly struck down by a ruptured brain aneurysm. Luckily I received the life-saving surgery in time. I’m one of the lucky ones.”

• To keep up-to-date with their nationwide challenge you can visit www.soulsisteruk.com and to sign the petition, go to https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/122684.