A WOMAN from Comet country is heading off on a 10-mile walk to raise funds for fellow osteoporosis sufferers. Carol Pont, 42, from Wisden Road, Stevenage, was diagnosed with the brittle bone disease at the early age of 31. Since then, she has suffered 17

A WOMAN from Comet country is heading off on a 10-mile walk to raise funds for fellow osteoporosis sufferers.

Carol Pont, 42, from Wisden Road, Stevenage, was diagnosed with the brittle bone disease at the early age of 31.

Since then, she has suffered 17 fractures including four fractures to her right wrist in 2002.

She is heading out on the walk on Saturday, February 24 with her trusted personal trainer, Mark Woodcock, with whom she has trained for the past year.

Together they want to raise awareness of the fact osteoporosis affects people of all ages.

Carol received her diagnosis while holidaying in Tenerife.

She said: "I had slipped up a beach slope and landed on my back in excruciating pain.

"An ambulance took me to hospital where, after numerous X-rays, it was discovered I had fractured my spine."

As none of the doctors could interpret the injury into English they eventually managed to call an RAF doctor who explained to her it was idiopathic osteoporosis that had caused the fracture.

Carol said: "I had no warning signs, it just came out of the blue. That's the frightening thing about osteoporosis.

"You don't know you have it until your first fracture."

Carol says she can get a fracture just from turning over in bed. But she added: "I don't let the disease rule my life.

"I rule my own life and Mark has helped me build up strength.

"But you have to make sure you eat a good diet with lots of calcium and do lots of exercise."

If you would like to sponsor Carol, ring her on 07717 254346.