SHE IS Hampshire’s very own super granny.

While some grandmas spend their retirement knitting or baking cakes, Jennifer Barker has embarked on a mammoth mission that many half her age would dare never attempt.

But having watched her grandson’s teenage years ruined by a debilitating disease, the 80-year-old is not going to let her age, or knee replacement surgery, stop her from taking on the London Marathon.

It won’t be easy and some think she is mad, but the grandma of seven said it has got to be done to help find a cure for the thousands like her grandson living with epilepsy.

Her grandson Luke Berry was diagnosed with the condition aged nine and she has been by his side helping to look after him ever since.

Now aged 17, he can have up to 50 seizures in one night, with 12 hours sleep feeling like three because of the physical toll on his body and he has missed whole years of school.

Jennifer, who lives in Brockenhurst, said: “It really is a horrible illness. Luke has had such a hard time and I really do believe that it has ruined his teenage years because it just takes everything He can’t be a normal 17-year-old boy and it’s so sad to watch.

“I feel like I have to do this marathon because if there is a chance I can help a charity to research and find a cure it will help my grandson and hundreds of others like him.”

Jennifer will be tackling the 26-mile run at the end of April in aid of the Epilepsy Society and she is determined to finish it.

She added: “I think I will mostly have to walk it just so I don’t wear down my knee replacement but I feel fine.

Daily Echo: Jennifer Barker with her grandson Luke Berry

“People say I’m mad at 80 taking on something like this – but I’m really looking forward to it and I am well on my way with training, I can walk 10 miles and feel fine the next day now.”

Luke, a student a Brockenhurst College, had a bright future ahead in music having lived at the Pilgrims School, in Winchester College, as a Quirister but quickly his seizures became too powerful at night and he couldn’t be away from home.

His mum Liz Kemsley, 49 and dad Ricky, 63, now look after him while juggling their sheep farm in Brockenhurst, with a video camera set up in his room to monitor Luke in his sleep.

Luke has a doorbell which he rings when he is conscious enough to call for help and Bea, the 18-month-old Labrador is always nearby to alert his parents when he is fitting, as is his younger brother Jake, 15.

Luke said: “I think it’s amazing that my granny is doing this, I’m not surprised because she has always been really active playing tennis all the time.

“I’m really happy that it’s for Epilepsy Society as well because when I was first looking at groups and charities that could help, I went to events with them and they really helped my family.

“You wouldn’t know that she is 80, I’m really proud of her.”

Jennifer, who had knee replacement surgery three years ago, added: “I’m so amazed by Luke, he is brilliant and really is very brave the way he keeps going and tries to not let it phase him but it is so intense, he is always tired and can’t function like a normal teenage boy, I’ve got to do something for him.”