Friends of a young woman who is seriously ill have helped start a £200,000 appeal for treatment by launching a photo of her into space.

Antonia Payne-Cheney, 20, has a condition called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and several secondary disorders, which mean that her brain is slowly being crushed by the weight of her skull.

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome is a rare connective tissue disorder, which has left Antonia with joints that can dislocate easily, fragile skin and internal organs that can 'split and tear'. Due to the condition, she has to be resuscitated several times a day and any fall could cause her neck to snap. She is also left in near-constant pain.

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If left untreated, the ligaments in her neck will weaken and she will no longer be able to support her head.

However, the surgery she needs isn't funded on the NHS, so Antonia has been raising funds to fly out to Barcelona where she can undergo a life-saving operation on her spine.

Now, two of her pals Dan Jepson and Ben Freke, both 23, have thought up an interesting way to raise awareness - and hopefully more funds - by sending a photo of Antonia into space.

Credit: SWNS

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The two friends launched a high-altitude balloon from Sheffield with a photo of their friend and some details about how to help fund her operation attached.

The pair have been tracking its journey across the UK using GPS and found that it had landed in Stafford - with Antonia's photo still attached.

They said: "We both really hope it will raise awareness of Antonia's plight. Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a rare condition and devastating to a 20-year-old who hasn't begun to live her life as she deserves."

Ben and Dan are now hoping the video will go viral to help bring in more cash, adding: "We both hope the video will go viral, as will donations to Antonia's JustGiving page."

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Antonia said: "Thank you so much for donating money for me to go to Barcelona because I really need this operation and it's going to save my life.

Credit: SWNS

"But we don't have any time to waste so thank you so much."