A TALENTED Worcester runner has shared her journey from a debilitating medical condition to the Commonwealth Games.

former RGS pupil Jenny Nesbitt was diagnosed with Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) in 2012, but ten years on she is competing in the games in Birmingham.

The autoimmune disease affects the blood vessels and causes a spotty rash, often leaving sufferers unable to walk.

Jenny was a UK champion at under-17 level, but her career was unexpectedly put on hold for two years while she battled the illness.

The 27-year-old said: "Ten years ago this month I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease.

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"I was in hospital and the 2012 Olympics was on and I was sat in hospital thinking ‘one day I want to try and be as successful as these athletes’.

"To be in the Commonwealth Games a decade on is very special.

"Looking back, it was an awful time but it has actually helped set me up later on in life and I hope to use it to inspire other people that you can go through adversity and come out the other side and still achieve your goals."

2022 is Jenny's second shot at the games, having appeared in 2018 representing Wales.

Born in Oxford, she moved to Worcester at a young age and developed a passion for running whilst at the Royal Grammar School, later going on to join the Worcester Athletics Club.

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She has been preparing on the University of Birmingham’s athletics track ahead of her 5,000m at the Alexander Stadium on August 7.

Jenny, whose mother is from the Welsh seaside resort of Rhos-On-Sea, added: "I grew up in Worcester so Birmingham 2022 is probably as close to a home games as I’m ever going to get!

"I’m so excited, it has been a massive target of mine for the last two or three years so to be finally named in the team is exciting.

"This is the most confident I have been about being able to compete with some of the best athletes in the Commonwealth.

"I would love to get top eight, but if I can keep myself in it as much as possible and see what happens, I will be really happy.

"I just want to walk away from the track knowing I left everything out there."