A TEENAGER who was paralysed with a life threatening disease ran one mile to raise money for a team of dedicated doctors who helped him recover.

In March Brandon Billen, 14, was struck down with a rare disease of the brain called Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM).

Brought on by a bacterial infection, the disease attacked the teenager’s nervous system and left him temporarily paralysed from the waist down.

On Friday, Brandon ran one mile in the grounds of the Shrubberies School in Stonehouse where he studies.

The teenager has raised nearly £400 for the Barbara Russell Children’s Unit at Frenchay Hospital near Bristol where a dedicated team of doctors and nurses who helped him pull through.

The youngster became ill on Mother's Day this year.

"He seemed as though he had a cough and a cold, so I did not think much of it at first," said his mum, Donna Curley, who has five other children and lives in Fox Close in Cashes Green.

"His legs started aching but later on he was in real pain and then he lost feeling altogether.

"When I called out the paramedics, my head was spinning. I thought that it could be meningitis.

"As soon as he got to the hospital he was out cold. The doctors told me could die - I was so worried. Later, when he came to, he could only move his eyebrows," said Donna, 38.

The neurological disease causes the brain and spinal chord to swell and onset is sudden.

Symptoms include fever, visual blurring, trouble swallowing, weakness in the arms and legs and drowsiness.

Brandon was transferred from Gloucestershire Royal Hospital to Frenchay Hospital where specialists later told Donna that it was unlikely her son would die, but that he could end up in a wheelchair.

"I stayed with him all night, I just did not think he would make it."

After spending two weeks being treated with steroids, Brendan’s health improved and feeling returned to his legs following physiotherapy sessions.

"When he felt better he said ‘take me to the grass, I want to run’. He took a few steps, I was amazed.

"The doctors and nurses were brilliant, they really looked after my little boy. I think Brandon realises just how lucky he is to be alive and he wants to give something back," said Donna.