A "COUCH POTATO" mother who has championed the causes of epileptics is to run two marathons in a week.
Back in 2004 Emma Williams founded the Matthews Friends charity – in honour of her epileptic son.
The Lingfield charity works to help drug-resistant epileptics, including promoting a ketogenic diet – high in fat, low in carbohydrates and with zero sugar.
Matthews Friends has since gone international with Mrs Williams speaking at conferences in Europe and the USA over the "wonder diet" which brought "amazing" improvements for her son, eliminating his extreme seizures.
But the demands of raising two children – Matthew has brain damage and uses a wheelchair – and running a busy charity took its toll on the busy mum's fitness.
Now in training for two 26-mile runs in April, she recalled: "Two years ago I was dreadfully unfit.
"I was becoming an overweight couch potato which made me miserable.
"When you are a single mum caring for someone virtually 24 hours a day, fitness isn't high on the agenda.
"But one day I looked in the mirror and said to myself 'enough is enough'."
Her road to recovery began with a few after-dusk walks near her home in Silkham Road, Oxted.
Mrs Williams did the London Royal Parks Half Marathon 15 months ago, part-walking and part-running the course.
She did likewise when she tackled the Brighton Marathon in April last year.
And now her ultimate challenge is looming.
The 44-year-old will tackle the Brighton Marathon again, on April 14, followed by the London Marathon a week later.
Mrs Williams – mother to Matthew, now 18, and 16-year-old Alice – is no stranger to running in the spotlight.
Last July she carried the Olympic Torch in Kent.
She had been selected thanks to her commitment to helping people with epilepsy.
Speaking of her forthcoming double challenge, she said: "After completing the Brighton Marathon last year and feeling really good about it, I decided to up the ante this year and do both the Brighton and London Marathon.
"It seemed a very good idea at the time, but now I'm getting nervous about it."
To sponsor Mrs Williams, visit www.justgiving.com/emma-williams44.
