Mrs Laidler will take part in the Great North Run to raise money for research into a genetic disorder made famous in the blockbuster Hollywood movie Lorenzo's Oil.

Known as Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), there is no cure for the brain disease, which has devastated the lives of Mrs Laidler's sons, Lee Clark, 15, and Shaun, 20.

Mrs Laidler, 39, of Tyne View, Hebburn, has become a full-time carer for her sons, who both have learning difficulties because of the genetic disorder, which damages nerve cells in the brain.

Lee is now severely disabled, bedridden for much of the time, tube-fed and confined to a wheelchair.

His older brother Shaun has learning problems and is deaf because of ALD, which first struck the family 10 years ago.

ALD was the subject of the movie, Lorenzo's Oil, and people normally only live for up to 10 years after diagnosis.

Mrs Laidler, who hopes to raise about £2,000 with the help of fellow charity runners, said: "The boys have kept me going through my training, because I think of all the pain Lee especially has been through.

"ALD is a cruel illness, bringing only suffering to the patient and heartache to the families involved.

"It's been hard for everyone over the last 10 years and there are times I cannot get out of the house.

"But I go on for the boys and I would just like to raise as much money as possible through the Great North Run."

The family tried to stem Lee's condition with Lorenzo's Oil, but
the acid mixture did not have any effect.

Mrs Laidler, who is supported by her husband, Justin, 35, will take part in this year's Great North Run on Sunday, October 5, with her cousin, Tracey Rutherford, and friends, Helen Little and Jen Kerr.

The money raised will go into research and support for families coping with ALD.

Anyone wishing to sponsor Mrs Laidler and her friends to boost the London-based ALD support group should log on to www.justgiving.com/donnalaidler.