FOR the past 26 years pain has been a daily reality for Jackie Richardson.

She is unable to walk more than a short distance, has undergone four major operations and has never been able to work.

Jackie suffers from Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease, a nerve disorder which results in a loss of muscle tissue and sensation in the feet, legs, hands and arms.

She was diagnosed with the disease, also known as Hereditary Motor and Sensory Neuropathy, at the age of eight after she began falling over and struggling to walk properly.

Since then she has undergone a number of painful operations, the latest of which was two months ago at Royal Derby Hospital.

There is a 50% chance of a parent passing on the condition to their offspring and two of Jackie's four children have also inherited the disease, which can often also result in scoliosis, or a curvature of the spine, as well as arched feet and curled toes.

The 34-year-old said: "When I was first diagnosed the doctors didn't really know much about the condition and there was nothing they could do for me until seven years later when I had my first operation.

"The only shoes I could wear as a child were trainers and I used to get bullied a lot at school because I walked funnily."

Over the years Jackie has had a metal rod inserted into her back to straighten her spine, had her Achilles tendons lengthened and part of her heel bone removed.

She is in plaster following her latest operation, in which the tendons in her right foot were crossed over to try to stop her foot bending inwards.

Everyday tasks such as opening bottles and jars are extremely difficult and Jackie has to drive almost everywhere because she can walk only a short distance.

One of five children, Jackie's oldest brother and father also suffered from the condition and her two eldest daughters Natalie, 14 and Sabrina, 12 also have the disease, which it is believed affects about 23,000 people in the UK.

Jackie, of Allenton, said: "The hardest thing is explaining to people why I'm like this because it's not a condition many people have heard of – I've never met anyone outside my family who has it."

But that could change in a few months' time when Jackie's husband Darren, 38, takes part in a charity 10,000 ft parachute jump to raise money for CMT United Kingdom, a charity which supports people affected by Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease.

Since he signed up for the jump Jackie has been in contact with other people from across the UK who suffer from the condition and said it has been a relief talking to people in the same position.

She said: "Darren has always wanted to do a parachute jump and it made sense to raise money for a CMT charity.

"Because I've been in plaster since my last operation I've been confined to the house and have been doing some research on the internet and have found lots of groups on sites like Facebook. Some people have even said they want to come along to watch the jump, which would be amazing."

Jackie and Darren are hoping their fund-raising efforts will also help raise awareness of the disease and what sufferers such as Jackie and her children have to go through.

To sponsor Darren visit www.justgiving.com/darrensjumpforcmt