A DISNEY fanatic is wishing on a star - and an ice bath - as she marches on in her bid to travel the equivalent of Colchester to Florida.
Karen Mills, from Colchester, is a self-confessed ‘Disnerd’ who lives and breathes everything Walt Disney related.
The 35-year-old has visited Walt Disney World, in Florida more than a dozen times but this ‘visit’ will be the least-relaxing one yet.
Having also paid a visit to Disneyland Paris three times and Disneyland Resort, in California, she will now be hoping to create her own legacy within the legendary franchise.
Despite the magic which fulfils her life today, Karen has needed a helping hand from her own set of fairy godmothers to ensure she continues to lead a healthy, happy life.
She was born with cystic fibrosis and had to be on oxygen and medication around the clock during her first living hours, and she also required a feeding tube.
However, her life changed forever seven years ago when she underwent a double lung transplant at the Royal Papworth Hospital, in Cambridgeshire.
Since then, Karen has trained as an accountant and got married to Glen, who she blessed by opening his eyes to the Disney kingdom and showing him the magic.
And this year she set herself the task of walking the distance from Colchester Castle to Cinderella’s Castle, in Disney World - a total of 4,391 miles - for the hospital.
It is a journey which has since seen her take more than 4.2 million steps across 2,500 miles.
“I don’t think I understood just how much it really was before I started,” said Karen.
“Over summer it dawned on me that I still had a long, long way to go. Thankfully I’m now on the downward slope and feel mentally a lot better about where I am with it.
“I passed the halfway point at the end of August which was a little behind where I wanted to be, but it spurred me on to have a big push through September with four months to go.
“Most days I have a subconscious nod to myself thinking how I can’t believe my body is doing so well.
“I’ve never been one to sit back and relax but now looking at how much I’ve done, I can’t believe my little body has been able to do it.
“I look back at old pictures of myself and a stiff breeze would snap me. I was so tiny, so gaunt.
“I can’t get my head around the magic the surgeons did to bring me from that frail body to where I am now.”
It is this magic, with an extra special layer of Disney sprinkled on top, which has kept Karen going through her gruelling challenge.
And when she smashed through the halfway point, she donned a full Minnie Mouse outfit to celebrate.
“Pretty much every day I wear something Disney, but that’s because it’s basically all I have,” she added.
“My whole wardrobe is Disney tops, trousers, socks - even if it’s subtle, I know it’s there.
“Some people may look at me and think I’m stupid but the world needs some lightheartedness. I don’t do serious and I’m not going to start now.”
Karen works from home, and admits she now has plans to convert her office into the ultimate tribute to her lifetime love of the magical brand.
She revealed once she gets a moment to breathe away from the fundraiser, she will be converting her office into a shrine to the iconic Epcot attraction in Florida’s Disney World.
“I’ve got to proper nerd status since becoming an adult and having my own income,” she admitted.
“We don’t do branded stuff, go out a lot or live a lavish lifestyle, we work for our holidays to Disney. Everything in our house has a subtle nod to it and I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
Money from Karen’s walk will be donated to the transplant unit and the Cystic Fibrosis unit at the Royal Papworth Hospital.
Donate via justgiving.com/fundraising/karen-mills-disnerd.
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