Woman takes on half marathon after open-back surgery

A woman who is recovering from open-back spinal fusion surgery will walk a half marathon to raise money for a baby loss charity.

Elanor Ferguson, from Ramsgate in Kent, underwent years of surgery for five slipped discs, which began while she was studying catering at college in 2017.

Her condition did not improve, so in 2022, Elanor had spinal fusion on the two worst discs, and is still in recovery from the major operation.

But that has not deterred her - in fact, the mother-of-four is hoping to become the fastest woman ever to walk the 13.1-mile London Landmarks Half Marathon with a fused spine.

"The pain varies, walking I don't have so much of a problem with now, which is good," Elanor told BBC Radio Kent.

"I'm doing [the marathon] for multiple little reasons. I want to publicise Tommy's, the charity, because it doesn't get the publicity it should get.

"I also want to show to people who have got a hidden disability, or any disability, that if you train properly and have the support network around you, that you can do anything."

The challenge is not without risks. If it rains, for example, and she slips, it could mean Elanor spends the rest of her life in a wheelchair.

The half marathon is on 12 April, and Elanor says the support from her sister Rachael "has been an amazing help".

"She does all the training walks with me, it's made such a big difference having her with me every step of the way," said Elanor.

"I'm a bit nervous, my longest walk so far has been 10 miles. But I am breaking up my walks into 5km chunks, I do Parkrun every week.

"I'm going to be fuelled by Jelly Babies and hot chocolate."

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