A mother is to walk non-stop for 33 hours as part of a fundraising challenge to find a cure for a disease she describes as 'nasty' and an attack on the 'innocent'.

Carmel Evans, a sonographer at Whipps Cross Hospital, will be raising awareness of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) tomorrow as she takes part in the London2Brighton walk.

Ms Evans 'courageous and adventurous' daughter, Erin, aged seven, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes after she nearly died four years ago.

"I noticed Erin was drinking more than normal and wetting herself a lot.

"Diabetes was in the back of my mind as a concern, but the doctor laughed and said it was far more likely to be a urine infection. She was wrong," said Ms Evans.

Erin was rushed to Whipps Cross Hospital after suddenly becoming "dangerously ill and coming close to falling into a coma" where she was treated with up to six insulin injections a day.

As part of her condition, Ms Evans must monitor every carbohydrate she eats and test her blood during routine meals.

Ms Evans will be joining hundreds of other people during the 64 mile walk and has so far raised over £1,000. 

Finally, she added: "Life sometimes feels like a constant battle to keep her alive and well.

"Balancing activity, food, stress, illness, excitement and hormones in an extremely active seven year old is very tough."

"We also have the constant worry of diabetic complications that she could get, including going blind, kidney failure, stroke, amputation and many more dreadful fates due to this disease."

To find out more, please visit Ms Evans Justgiving page here.