A GROUP of friends hope to raise £10,000 for Llandough Hospital’s All Wales Adult Cystic Fibrosis Centre.

Ceri-Anne Wilkins, 31, from Sully, and Jackie Strawbridge, 30, from Penarth, will be completing the London to Brighton challenge on May 23 to raise money for Better Life Appeal which supports the All Wales Adult Cystic Fibrosis Centre based at Llandough Hospital.

They were inspired by friend, Beth Clarke, 33, who was diagnosed with the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) at 20 months old, and spends time at the centre which provides care and support for those living with the life-long disease.

The challenge will see the pair covering 100km in just 24 hours, and have started training by running locally and by climbing Pen y Fan.

Mrs Clarke, who lives in Cardiff with her husband Lyndon, explained that Llandough Hospital houses the only adult Cystic Fibrosis centre in Wales caring for almost 250 patients, and it is expected that in 2015 the centre will be caring for over 350 patients from across Wales.

She said: “Throughout 2015, we hope to raise £10,000 for the Better Life Appeal, which aims to raise £1.3m to renovate a floor within the CF centre.

“Patients currently have to share a bathroom, the only CF ward to do so in the UK, which puts us at risk of cross infection and it will increase the number of beds from seven to 16.”

Up until five years ago, Mrs Clarke would visit the ward about every three months to receive extra treatment but now visits every seven to ten weeks as specialist nurses have given her adequate training to do most of her treatment at home.

She said: “The centre is vital as there is a specialist gym, physiotherapists are on hand as are the specialised CF care team, but if there is no room then patients can end up being moved to different wards which lack specialist CF facilities, extra beds would avoid this happening.”

Mrs Clarke’s mum, Michelle, first noticed that her baby had digestion problems and that her skin tasted salty, after which Mrs Clarke was diagnosed with the condition which affects the lungs and digestive system.

Since then a combination of physiotherapy and medication has kept her condition under control.

But catching infections is especially dangerous for CF patients and can result in a stay in the Llandough centre for treatment.

Every week, Mrs Clarke takes 300 tablets, a mix of antibiotics and digestive enzymes, along with 63 nebuliser solutions, 42 inhalers and completes over 14 physiotherapy sessions.

In the morning she completes a two hour physiotherapy routine, before taking the medication and completing a sinus wash. She then has to complete a one hour physiotherapy session in the evening.

Mrs Clarke added: “I used to not talk about my condition but as I get older I am more open and I want to talk about my experience in hope that people will be inspired to donate and support the Better Life Appeal.”

Mrs Clarke and friends has set up a campaign called Bertha’s Army, to raise money for the ward and will be hosting fundraising events throughout the year.

To keep up to date with the group’s activities and learn more about the group visit facebook.com/berthasarmy, find @berthasarmy on Twitter, visit www.justgiving.com/berthasarmy, or www.aboutbertha.wordpress.com