'I thought I was just clumsy - no one ever expected this'

When Jennifer Shaw noticed she was falling over a lot at school, she thought she was just being clumsy.

She would often trip up during her P.E lessons but put it down to the fact she wasn't very good at sports.

That was until her family realised she was struggling to climb stairs or walk properly.

Jennifer, who lives in Eccles, was taken to see a doctor who referred her for a biopsy. Just weeks later, the results were back – Jennifer had muscular dystrophy.

Muscular dystrophy, or MD, is a group of genetic conditions that cause muscles to weaken and break down over time.

It happens because the body can't make enough of certain proteins needed for healthy muscles. It usually progresses gradually.

Different types of MD affect people in different ways. Some start in childhood while others develop later in life.

Over time, it can make it harder to walk, move or even do simple everyday tasks. While treatments can help manage symptoms, there is currently no cure.

"Everyone knew me at school for falling over; they thought I had flat feet,” Jennifer, now 48, recalled.

“You could see I was walking differently. I might have been a bit clumsy at the time. I thought I might have just taken after my mum; some people just aren’t good at sports, so we put it down to that.

“When I look back, I feel like I went through stages because I was using a walking stick. So, in my 20s, I started using the walking stick.

“I had quite a lot of falls and the doctor said I should probably think about a wheelchair, even if I just used it occasionally because my legs were getting tired, and that’s why I was falling. I wasn’t able to pick my feet up.”

Jennifer’s condition gradually deteriorated following her diagnosis at age 18, seeing her go