A MATHS teacher battling a life-changing disease has been overwhelmed by the community's support.

The Evening Mail reported yesterday how Gemma Clarke was trying to raise £20,000 through crowdfunding to help adapt her home and give her back some dignity and quality of life.

When the Lake District Farmers Armstrong Family Charitable Trust heard of her plight, it donated £2,000 and online the amount raised was heading towards £1,000.

In the last eight years the 30-year-old has gone from being an active and healthy young woman to being in a wheelchair, confined to a bed in her living room next to her commode. 

Mrs Clarke has lupus which is a disease which sees the body attack itself and is being treated with chemotherapy. 

She has had surgery on her weakened spine and a brain tumour has developed. It has also damaged her lungs and bowel and left her left leg paralysed. An operation on her back last year left her with brain fluid leaking out of her spine and she contracted meningitis and was fighting for her life. 

Despite coping with all this she shows no sign of self-pity, just a wonderful sense of humour as she goes through gruelling physio to try and strengthen her body.

Mrs Clarke, a mum to one-year-old Gabriel, has a daily carer and is also looked after by her 34-year-old husband Simon.

Each day she has to have a sponge bath in her bed and her dream is to have a downstairs room with an en-suite wet room.

The couple, from Schoolwater, Dalton, have started crowdfunding to raise the £20,000 they need to achieve this dream. 

The St Bernard's Catholic High School maths teacher, who previously worked at Parkview and Furness Academy, also wants to raise awareness about lupus and just how serious it can be.

She said she was overwhelmed by the community's response in donating to her fundraising page and wanted to thank everyone for their support.

Mrs Clarke said: "It's incredible, a huge thank you to everyone. It is all greatly appreciated and I have been blown away by people's generosity. Thank you all so much."

Lake District Farmers managing director, Dan Austin, said: "We are really glad to be able to help this lady. Sometimes you fail to realise what others are going through. Then your hear about something like this. Gemma is very brave and if we can do a little to make her life more comfortable we are happy to be able to help."

Help Gemma and Simon raise the money they need by clicking  here

Read the full story of Gemma's brave battle  here