Eight-year-old Pip Thomas is taking part in the Adidas Women's 5k Challenge in Liverpool next month with her mum Jodie – and is determined to run the whole way.

The pair are taking on the task to raise vital funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and to help their friend Jamie Anderson, from Farndon, who suffers from the life-threatening inherited disease that claims three lives a week in the UK alone.

Jodie, from Gresford, explained that she met Jamie's mum when their first children were babies, and Jodie was pregnant with Pip at the same time that Zoe was expecting Jamie.

"It makes it real when you know a child the same age as Pip with cystic fibrosis, it brings it home to you," said Jodie.

"Zoe has to give Jamie therapy twice a day and he takes different drugs every day to help him digest food.

"The life expectancy of someone with cystic fibrosis is 31 – it must be dreadful to raise a child knowing that."

Cystic fibrosis is the UK's most common life-threatening inherited disease and is caused by a single defective gene. As a result, the internal organs, especially the lungs and digestive system, become clogged with thick sticky mucus resulting in chronic infections, inflammation in the lungs and difficulty digesting food.

The Cystic Fibrosis Trust is the UK's only national charity dealing with all aspects of the disease. It funds research to treat and cure the disease and aims to ensure appropriate clinical care and support for people with cystic fibrosis.

Jodie tries to raise money for the trust every year and has held craft fairs but this year she and Pip wanted to do something different.

"Jamie's mum Zoe is delighted at our efforts," said Jodie.

"I do a bit of running and entered things in the past, I did the London marathon two years ago. Pip belongs to Chester Junior Triathlon Club and it's a long way for a girl of her age but she's determined to run all the way.

"We've been out running together to prepare. We live a mile and a half from the Brownie hut in Gresford and my husband Andrew has been dropping us off there and we've been running back. Our goal one day this week is to run up and down to the Brownie hut, which will be the best part of 5k."

All Saints school pupil Pip and her mum have been getting plenty of support from Andrew and Pip's older brother Angus, 10.

The mother and daughter team are hoping to raise as much money for the trust as they can. To sponsor them go to www.justgiving.com/pipandjodie