A DETERMINED girl has completed her own Everest by walking a mile.


Jessica Taylor, who has cerebral palsy and chronic lung disease, had to pull her oxygen bottle behind her along her journey.


But through sheer grit and determination, she manged to complete the challenge in two and a half hours.


Jessica, eight, is a student at Lexden Springs special school and did the walk as a fundraiser for the 100,000 Smiles appeal.


The £100,000 appeal has been set up to raise funds for a play area at the school and children at the school decided to raise money by holding a walkathon.


The students, who have severe learning difficulties, walked as far as they could and those who can’t walk were pushed along the route in their wheelchairs.


Jessica's foster mother Carolyn Carey said: “Unfortunately, on the day of the walkathon, Jessica was having a CT scan on her lungs at the Royal Brompton Hospital.


“She would have enjoyed joining in so we decided to help her do it.”


Jessica's one mile route saw her walk from school to her grandparents’ house in Parr Drive, Colchester, accompanied by Carolyn.


She said: “She pulls her oxygen cannister behind her in a trunki.


“When she needed a break she would sit on the trunki to get her breath back."

Funds raised through the school’s fete, the walkathon and from generous donations have now topped £5,000.

To donate to the 100,000 Smiles appeal, which is supported by the Gazette, send a cheque to the Lexden Springs Appeal Fund at Lexden Springs School, Halstead Road, Colchester, CO3 9AB.


If you are fundraising, contact the appeal organisers via email at appealfund@lexdensprings.essex.sch.uk.