Kim is on the run for recovering mum

A woman who was unable to speak for almost a decade due to a neurological condition has paid tribute to her “one-in-a-million” daughter who is running 1,000 kilometres for charity.

Doctors thought Mrs Lorraine Etherington had suffered a stroke after she was shaking, stammering and left with a red rash just after Christmas, 1994.

After testing negative for Parkinson’s, Lorraine battled on for more than two years until she was diagnosed with dystonia — a condition that causes muscle spasms and contractions.

Daughter Kim Etherington-Bates was just three years-old when her mother suffered the first attack.

It left Lorraine unable to walk and, once her jaw locked shut, unable to speak.

“If I tried to speak, my whole body would spasm,” said 56-year-old Lorraine, who was living on Winthorpe Road, Newark, at the time.

“Members of my family could just about work out what I was trying to say but most of the time I used a light-writer, where I would type what I wanted to say on a keyboard and it would say it for me.

“I was also referred to speech therapists and took basic literacy classes at college.

“One day in 2004 my speech returned — my husband said ‘do you know you are speaking?’

“There were lots of tears and phone calls to family. It gave me my freedom.

“I still struggle with mobility, though.

“Over the years the doctors have tried different things, including physiotherapy, but I cannot walk for long distances because I get tired and out of breath.

“When I do walk I need a pair of walking sticks, and I also have a wheelchair.

“It has been a big learning process to be able to move again.”

'Mum really had to start from scratch'

Lorraine, who had to give up driving in 1995 due to her shaking, got back behind the wheel in November 2015. She also now works regularly.

Kim, now 27, lives in Newark and works for the Wirtgen Group. She has been running throughout the year to raise cash for the Dystonia Society.

A member of Notfast Running Club, Kim has chipped away at the 1,000-kilometre target by competing in several races throughout the year, including the East Midlands 10k and Newark Half-marathon.

She has set herself the goal of completing the challenge at the Newark Parkrun on November 18.

“It was difficult with mum, as you couldn’t really understand what she was saying and it was more of a mumble,” she said.

“After she was referred to the speech therapists, mum really had to start from scratch — getting the sounds out and sorting out the position of her lips.

“She is better now but still struggles with her movement.

“She can walk up stairs, but it has taken her 15 years to be able to do that.

“With the running, I am really trying to raise awareness as not many people have heard of dystonia.

“I am also aiming to raise £1,000, which will be given to the Dystonia Society.”

To donate, visit Kim's fundraising page.