A NOTTINGHAM woman with a rare condition that causes her to suffer crippling headaches and partial sight loss has pledged to lose weight to help others with the condition.

Heidi Hemingway, 33, was diagnosed with the neurological condition idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) in 2001 after suffering from severe neck and shoulder pain.

The mum-of-two has difficulty in moving as well as problems with her sight.

"I have a lot of problems seeing things coming up at the side of me, or if it is too bright in the supermarket," said Heidi, of Sherwood.

But in a bid to help others with the condition, Heidi has now joined forces with nine other people from across the country to raise money through the pounds for pounds challenge which was launched last month by IIH UK, a support group for sufferers and supporters.

There is no known cause of IIH – which causes fluid to build up in the brain – but large doses of vitamin A, use of steroids and excess weight can contribute to the condition. In around six per cent of people, losing weight can help.

The condition can lead to loss of vision or blindness and can cause loss of short term memory and nausea. It affects one or two people in every 10,000 people, mostly women.

"I've lost quite a lot of my peripheral vision," she said.

"I still get quite bad headaches and it can affect your memory as well as cause depression and anxiety."

She said her condition was quite unstable at the moment and her medication also caused side effects, including intense pins and needles and sickness.

She added: "More awareness needs to be raised of this condition and we are hoping as more people come forward more research into the condition will be done so we all get treated better. Lots of doctors don't know enough about it or will just put it down to depression or migraines."

To support the pounds for pounds challenge, go to www.iihuk-pounds4lbschallenge. moonfruit.com