A COURAGEOUS 27-year-old woman - who was told she would never walk again - has tackled a 10km challenge.

Jo Jo Spedding, from Egremont, defied the odds to walk again following an horrific road accident eight years ago.

The devastating accident left Jo Jo with major injuries and she was in a coma for 19 days, waking up on her 19th birthday.

It has been a long road to recovery as Jo Jo has gone from being wheelchair-bound to learning to walk again. And not only that but she has taken up a 10km challenge.

She said: "Considering they told me I would never walk again and then to be completing the 10km. I just want to go back to the hospital and show them my badge."

Jo Jo completed the walk in stints on a treadmill at Seascale Community Fitness Gym at the Windscale Club.

Her close-knit family have supported her since the accident, in which she suffered multi bone fractures and damaged stem cell which resulted in a brain injury.

Jo Jo told The News that she woke up from her coma listening to the song When You Believe, by X Factor winner Leon Jackson. She now has this title tattooed on her arm.

Over the years Jo Jo has been treated at West Cumberland Hospital and the Walkergate Rehab Centre in Newcastle.

She lives with her parents Trish and Norman Spedding.

Trish said: "Eight years down the line our life journey still continues, we never get tired or trying, never get tired of crying and never get tired of hope. But then you sit and wonder, how we can fix it."

Vanessa Strickland, of Carlisle, set up an initiative called Run Mum, which her niece Jo Jo joined.

Jo Jo joined Seascale Community Fitness Centre, and with the help of her other auntie, gym manager Linda Winder, was on her way to achieving her goal.

"She's now completed her 10km over two weeks. Jo Jo still loves challenges that Run Mum sets her and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful," said Trish.

Jo Jo thanks her family for being there for her, with added thanks to Vanessa, Linda and friend Margaret for their help with the fitness challenge.