A young mum diagnosed with a serious genetic disease is set to run the London Marathon to raise awareness of her condition.

Bethany Wood from Folkestone has set herself the goal as one of a staggering 30 marathons she is running this year – despite having cystic fibrosis.

Ms Wood, 30, will be taking on the 26.2-mile run tomorrow, as run number eight of her own '30 for 30' challenge.

The mum-of-one is hoping to raise £5,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, a charity she has worked with for 16 years, after being diagnosed with the typically life-limiting condition aged two.

"I was diagnosed late, even for the rate of diagnosis 30 years ago," she explained.

"A lot of people are diagnosed in the first six weeks now, and even back then it was around six months, so it was definitely late.

"To reach 30 was always a big milestone for my generation. It was sort of the age we were told we wouldn't get to back then. Thanks to advances in medicine, nowadays it is higher of course".

"There have been many serious occasions I was worried I wouldn't make it out"

The sales executive, who has lived in the Folkestone area all of her life and now lives in Cheriton, could also reach a significant milestone in her fundraising efforts.

"For me the 30 for 30 challenge may well be my last fundraiser," she said. "I want to reach £5,000 which would take me to £50,000 raised for the charity.

"I'm lucky enough to be able to get a place in the actual run this year and I'm really looking forward to it.

"Life with CF has been hard for me. I’ve struggled a lot with my health and there have been many serious occasions I was worried I wouldn’t make it out.

"But I always find the positive, which is that I have the most amazing CF family and each of them is a blessing to me.

"I want this challenge to show the next generation with CF that they can lead a ‘normal’ life and do what their friends do."

Beverley Burnham-Jones, head of community and events at the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, said: “We’re so grateful to our wonderful supporters, some of whom have cystic fibrosis themselves, for taking on this mammoth challenge.

"Their inspiring efforts make a massive difference in helping us support people with CF across the UK and fund vital and life-changing research.”

To donate to Ms Wood's fundraiser, click here.

Read more: All the latest news from Folkestone