ME sufferer Maxine takes on Inca Trail challenge

10:30am Thursday 28th August 2008

A MUM who suffers from a debilitative condition is taking part in an epic six-day trek in Peru in a bid to raise thousands of pounds for charity.

Maxine Hill has myalgic encephalopathy (ME), which means she suffers chronic fatigue. She also has hyperglycemia — excessive sugar in the blood.

Maxine, aged 38, will be taking part in the Inca Trail Trek in Peru in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care, which provides nursing at home to terminally ill patients.

She said: “I wanted to do something that would make a real difference and would challenge me physically and emotionally.

“This will be particularly demanding, but I am determined to do it, even if I have to crawl on my hands and knees. I don’t want the illness to beat me.”

Maxine, of Washburn Close, Westhoughton, was diagnosed with ME seven years ago. At its worst, she was in bed for 18 hours a day.

Now the former Farnworth Grammar School pupil works full-time for Co-operative Financial Services in Manchester and has a son, Joshua, aged four.

She sets off for Peru on October 24 and will spend three days acclimatising before trekking for six days to the lost city of Machu Picchu.

Maxine has started preparing for the trek with hikes in the Lake District and has given up smoking.

Anyone interested in sponsoring her can go to justgiving.com/maxinehill

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