Brave Ruth Palmer battles health problems to beat Sheffield Hospitals 10k trek

Ruth and the friends who joined her on the walk.

A MOTHER whose life is severely restricted by a genetic disorder that leaves her breathless after just a few steps, tackled a 10km trek to raise money for the ward that cares for her.

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) sufferer Ruth Palmer (34), of Brinsworth, regularly wakes up in the morning struggling to breathe.

But the mother-of-two was determined to challenge herself as part of Sheffield Hospitals Charity’s annual Walk for Wards fundraiser.

Almost 400 people took part in the event on September 9 in the Peak District and the fundraising total is expected to reach £30,000.

Ruth said despite her reduced lung function, which had dropped from 90 per cent to around 50 per cent, she wanted to give something back to the CF ward at the Northern General Hospital, which she opened in 2010.

Ruth said: “It’s often hard for me to walk a short distance.

“So I decided to take part in Walk for Wards, because I felt like I needed to properly challenge myself.”

She added: “The ward is on another level and the staff from cleaners, support workers, nurses, dieticians, physiotherapists and consultants, all help in the resting process.

“It’s as home from home as you can get a hospital room to be.”

Ruth has fortnightly stays on the CF Ward to keep on top of infections and dips in lung function.

“I was diagnosed with CF when I was two years old,” she said, “It didn’t affect my life too much when I was younger, but in the last ten years it has had a daily impact on my life.

“Some days I can wake up and feel on top of the world, which is probably a healthy person’s rubbish, and then other days I can barely breathe.

“I plough the little energy I have into doing the best for my boys, but it’s now taking a huge toll on my body.

“Just like any parent, though, I want to put my children first.”

Visit www.sheffieldhopsitalscharity.org.uk/donate to donate funds to enhance patient care at Sheffield’s adult hospitals.