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Chatham student Stacie Hallam conquers constant pain to finish 100km London to Brighton walk for Cancer Research UK

00:01, 30 May 2014

A woman with a crippling medical condition needed hospital treatment after walking 100km over two days to raise money for charity.

Stacie Hallam suffers from fibromyalgia which causes chronic pain, fatigue, muscle stiffness and other ailments.

Stacie Hallam did the London to Brighton Challenge in aid of Cancer Research UK
Stacie Hallam did the London to Brighton Challenge in aid of Cancer Research UK

Everyday the 22-year-old manages her pain, which can flare up to crippling levels, with medication.

She was determined to complete the London2Brighton challenge in aid of Cancer Research UK. But after walking for 38 hours, she had to be admitted to hospital 10 minutes after passing the finishing line.

Some of her muscle tissue had broken down, and a dangerously high level of damaged muscle cells were released into her bloodstream.

Stacie, who is studying for a masters degree in social work said: “I was exhausted but didn’t realise how ill I was becoming. My determination was overriding. I was told I passed out on the way to the hospital.”

After three days of treatment she was discharged – minus a few toenails which came off after her feet swelled up.

Stacie, of Princes Park, Chatham, said: “My mum has banned me from doing any more charity walks for a while, so now I’m looking into bungee jumping.”

"I’m in chronic pain every single day" - Stacie Hallam

It took two years for the University of Greenwich student to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia after she developed pains at 15.

She said: “At one stage I went to the doctor who actually looked over my head at my mum and told her it was all in my head.”

Finally, she was diagnosed at 17 with the condition, which has no cure. She has refused to let it stop her doing things “even though I’m in chronic pain every single day.”

Stacie started the challenge on Saturday at 8am and finished on Sunday evening, stopping only at checkpoints.

It took her almost double the average walking pace to finish, with the last 6km taking more than six hours.

So far the former Bishop of Rochester Academy pupil has raised more than £1,100 for Cancer Research UK, which she supported after a family member died of cancer in February.

She added: “It’s amazing what people have done by donating and I also owe a thanks to one of the marshals who walked the last 6km with me.”

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