LLANDEILO fundraiser Sophie Washington will be taking on a mile-a-day challenge in her wheelchair for a children's charity.

The 25-year-old's aim is to raise at least £500 for Rays of Sunshine, a charity that brightens the lives of seriously ill children and young people.

Sophie has a rare and complex form of Brittle Diabetes, Functional Neurological Disorder, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Non-Epileptic Seizure Disorder and Hypermobility Syndrome. She endures a range of symptoms daily, including seizures, joint dislocations, nausea and require lots of medication. However, this has not deterred Sophie from taking on this fantastic challenge.

In 2010, Rays of Sunshine granted Sophie’s greatest wish to visit the set of BBC One’s drama Holby City.

When Sophie’s health deteriorated, Sophie was offered another wish in 2012 and got to sing with popular boyband, JLS, at the Royal Albert Hall. Since then, Sophie has been heavily involved with the charity as a Wish Ambassador, where she has co-ordinated 18 wishes to date.

Sophie has previously fundraised for the charity and is taking on this challenge to push herself and help Rays of Sunshine continue their work.

Sophie said: “I’m really excited to be taking part in the Rays and Shine Challenge. I am slightly nervous - a mile a day for 14 days is huge for me, but I am determined to complete it. I will be thinking of all the children who will be able to have their wish granted because of the Rays and Shine challenge and that will get me through.”

Rays of Sunshine brightens the lives of seriously ill children aged three to 18 across the UK by granting their greatest wishes and providing ongoing support within hospitals. During the Covid pandemic, the charity has continued to offer support and its services to seriously ill children when they need it the most. For more information, please visit: www.raysofsunshine.org.uk.

To donate to Sophie and support her challenge, visit her JustGiving page justgiving.com/fundraising/sophiemaywashington.