DOZENS of dogs and their owners walked through Cwmbran at the weekend to raise funds for a woman suffering from Stiff Person Syndrome.

The poignant walk from Edlogan Way, Croesyceiliog, proved the dog really is man’s best friend, as the event saw dozens of dogs take part at 11am on Saturday, in support of Pontypool mum Lindsay Clarke, 33, who suffers from the rare condition.

Mrs Clarke has been completely bed-bound since December, and has, over the last five years, become trapped in her own body as she has lived with a rare autoimmune disease called Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) since June 7, 2009. She is desperately in need of a £300,000 stem cell transplant.

The condition has forced her husband, Jason, to give up work to become her full time carer as well as looking after the couple’s three children Olivia-Beth, 12, Mollie-Jai, seven, and Dylan, four.

The fundraising event is one of many over recent months as her family campaign to raise the cash.

Donations have poured in on an online fundraising page since Mrs Clarke’s story was first told, with around £20,082.00 raised so far.

Known to friends as ‘Nerrie’ Mrs Clarke, from Talywain, suffers regular and aggressive seizures and cramps, during which her respiratory system shuts down – they can last hours at a time.

She has an oxygen mask and canister constantly by her bed to help her breathe during such episodes.

Speaking previously, Mrs Clarke told the Argus: “I absolutely, point blank, refuse for SPS to rob me of my life.”

Her blog can be found at bit.ly/1hx9ec9

Her fundraising page is gofundme.com/838nac