A Totton mum has taken on a 10k running challenge to raise money for Southampton charities that supported her after her two-year-old daughter was in intensive care.

Charlene Lockitt, 39, said she faced the hardest moments of her life when her 2-year-old daughter Isabelle went from feeling normal to having a collapsed lung in the space of just four hours.

The mother of two took her youngster to Southampton General Hospital last October after suspecting she was unwell.

After speaking with doctors at the hospital Charlene said she felt like a bit of a ‘dummy’ as Isabelle seemed fine – until things took a sudden turn for the worst.

Isabelle’s oxygen levels suddenly dropped and her condition was so severe she couldn’t even be moved from A&E to a ward without a constant supply of oxygen.

The Totton mother said: “Having to tell my partner that he might never speak to his daughter again was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done.

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“My instincts kicked in and I'm so glad we were at the hospital – I’m also so grateful for the doctors for listening to me and running further tests.

“I can’t imagine what might have happened if they had not.”

Isabelle in hospitalIsabelle in hospital (Image: Submitted) Isabelle had RSV, a common cause of coughs or colds, but which had become more serious and collapsed her lung.

It left her on a ventilator needing constant oxygen for just over a week.

In that time, the family were supported by three charities, Benji and Beyond, PICU, Sophie's Legacy, and the Intensive Care Unit for children at Southampton General - all of which they are now raising money for.

Despite never running before in her life the mother of two set herself the challenge of running the Bournemouth Supersonic 10K last Saturday to raise money and give back to those that support her while Isabelle was ill.  

Being accompanied by her friend, Christine O’Driscoll, Charlene was able to set a personal record time of one hour and 24 minutes and has so far raised £900.

You can donate to the fundraiser here.

Charlene said: “It took months of training and I have been out running three times a week.

“I will always be so grateful to the individuals and charities that supported us – I just can’t thank them enough.

“Some of the nurses and charity staff even bought us comforting bits out of their own money – they are incredible.”