THE Spirit of Christmas carol event has attracted major stars to Christ Church Cathedral in recent years to help raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.

But a 44-year-old mum will be playing a key role at next month’s big Christmas fundraising event, which is again being sponsored by Oxford Mail sister paper The Oxford Times.

Tracy McMahon, of Chipping Warden, near Banbury, will be lighting the first candle at the candlelit event on December 7, in aid of the UK’s leading charity that funds research into muscle-wasting conditions.

Tracy and her sister Jane Bloxham, 42, who lives in Brackley, are both manifesting carriers of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

They are among only a small number of women in the UK affected by the severe muscle-wasting condition, that usually affects boys.

Tracy, whose son Liam is shortly to celebrate his 21st birthday, was diagnosed with the disease at the age of 26. As her son grew up she had found it more difficult to lift him and she began to struggle with back pain and experience difficulty walking.

Her sister was given a similar diagnosis at the age of 24.

Tracy said she would be joined at the carol service by her sister, son and husband Kevin McMahon, an engineer with the Kildington-based firm Aldens.

Mrs McMahon said: “I have received tremendous support from the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign. But I have never been to one of the Spirit of Christmas events. We are all looking forward to it greatly.”

Last year more than 400 people gathered in the cathedral to help raise about £10,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.

In the past few years well-known names such as Imelda Staunton, Bill Paterson, James Fleet, Miranda Richardson and Dominic West have all lent their support to the event, giving festive readings on the night.

Celebrities attending this year’s event will be announced in the coming weeks.

The money raised continues the charity’s fight against muscle-wasting diseases, affecting 70,000 children and adults in the UK.

Tickets are priced at between £10 and £40 and are available from the charity’s website at muscular-dystrophy.org or by calling 0207 8032861.