A WOMAN who lives with a chronic medical condition hopes to raise hundreds of pounds for charity by becoming the latest volunteer for the ice bucket challenge.

Vera Maven, from Darlington, has multiple sclerosis (MS) and suffered a stroke two years ago, leaving her permanently wheelchair-bound.

Along with care and support from her husband Philip, 53-year-old Mrs Maven relies on twice-daily care visits from Darlington-based Quality Carers.

She was given £50 by Quality Carers to put towards charity fundraising, which she decided to put towards the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association.

Mrs Maven, along with a handful of staff members from Quality Carers, took part in the challenge in Darlington's market square, on Saturday (September 13).

She decided to raise funds for MND, as both it and MS are neurological conditions.

Mrs Maven thanked staff at the nearby Dolphin Centre for providing accessible changing facilities for her to use before and after the challenge, as well as Greggs, in High Row, for providing hot drinks to those taking part.

Asked how she found the icy challenge, she said: "It was not that bad, really. It was over fairly quickly."