A PEEBLES mum who went on the run after her son was diagnosed with a rare debilitating health condition has crossed the finishing line.

And Carol Dow has raised more than double her fundraising target.

The 55-year-old pulled her trainers back on, following a 28 year hiatus from running, after her 18-year-old son, Greg Scobie, was forced to quit his medical course in London because of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome.

PoTS is an abnormality in the functioning of the autonomic nervous system, and brings on headaches, fatigue, palpitations, sweating, nausea, fainting and dizziness due to an increased heart rate.

During the summer Carol began training for her first ever 10K run in a bid to raise awareness of the rare condition as well as funds into its research.

Earlier this month she took to the roads of Glasgow for the Great Scottish Run and completed the six mile run in a time of one hour and 12 minutes.

Carol told us: "I've been training for this run for five months, which was hard after a 28 year gap from any running.

"It was an amazing experience and I have so far raised over £1000 for PoTS UK.

"My youngest son Greg has this condition, and it has been life changing for him during what should be his introduction to adult independent life.

"It's very hard to watch him have to come to terms with it.

"Running 10K is nothing compared to the days he sometimes has."

Since returning to his Peebles home earlier this year, medication has helped ease Greg's symptoms.

The teenager had been studying nursing at Kings College in London before being struck down by the condition.

Following his diagnosis it was mutually agreed that his health wouldn't allow for long shifts on the wards.

But he has now been accepted by St Andrew's University to study a less physically demanding Earth Sciences degree.

Mum Carol added: "Our own GP in Peebles has only ever encountered one other case of PoTS, it is so rare.

"Since Greg has started medication he has good days and bad days - sometimes he can't get out of bed at all - but it is helping.

"PoTS is so varied we don't know if Greg will ever get better - some people grow out of it eventually while others don't.

"We hope that my run will highlight what PoTS is and give people a better understanding of what Greg is going through."

Carol hoped to raise £500 from her run for the PoTS charity - but she has already accumulated over double the target.

Her fundraising page - https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/runningforpots - will remain open until November 2.