By Hayley Robinson

A young girl who has made a
remarkable recovery after she was struck down by a rare disease,
has inspired her boyfriend’s parents to run a half marathon.

Rob and Karen Holyoake, from
Bobbing, will raise funds for the Guillain-Barre Syndrome Support
Group when they run side-by-side in The Hastings Half Marathon this
Sunday.

The couple had never heard of the
condition until their 18-year-old son’s girlfriend Grace
Etherington was rushed from Medway Maritime Hospital to the Evelina
Children’s Hospital at St Thomas’ Hospital in London where she was
diagnosed with the rare disorder last November.

The disease which attacks and
destroys the nervous system, resulted in the pretty 15-year-old,
from Sittingbourne, suffering from temporary paralysis. She also
had to be ventilated after the post viral condition affected her
respiratory system leaving her unable to breathe on her own.

Only one in 100,000 people get the
disease but only one in a million suffer so severe attack as Grace
did.

Luckily after weeks on ventilation
and high doses of immunoglobulin therapy she began to make a
recovery.

Grace is now back at Highsted
Grammar School studying for her GCSEs and has even started
attending her weekly street dancing lessons.

Mrs Holyoake, said: "Grace is such
a lovely girl and it’s a shame that it happened to someone so young
but she’s on the road to recovery now.

"Sam had only just passed his
driving test when she was admitted to hospital but he made numerous
visits to London, taking Grace’s friends with him.

"I think it’s made their relationship stronger."

This is the first time Mrs
Holyoake’s has entered the event but her husband is no stranger to
it.

She said: "Rob’s entered it 19
times so he’s been helping me with my training.

"The first six miles will be up
hill which I’m not looking forward to.

"We’ll both be wearing T-shirts on
the day with GBS on the front and Guillain-Barre Syndrome on the
back with a heart underneath it with Grace’s name written in the
middle of it.

"Grace and her mum Sharon will be
there on the day cheering us on as will our family and friends.

"We’ve managed to raise £615 so far
but I’m hoping we’ll be able to raise £1,000 in all."

If you would like to make a donation visit the website www.justgiving.com/karen-holyoake