A WOMAN is determined to overcome her disabilities in order to walk three miles to raise money for an army cadet troop.

Lucy Davis, 29, of Littlebury Green, in Basildon, has been battling health problems for years and, although she is still able to walk, relies on a wheelchair most of the time.

She said: “A lot of my health problems are still undiagnosed.

“It seems to run in my family; my dad has an illness he has had since he was younger than I am now and that is still undiagnosed.

“Some of it is to do with my nerves, my muscles and my joints; a bit like nerve and muscle damage.

“It can be very difficult day to day but my husband Steve is brilliant, he has changed his life to look after me.”

Her husband, Steve Davis, is the Detachment Commander Staff Sergeant of the Basildon Arm Cadet Detachment, which is based at their new centre in Cherry Down, Basildon.

The new centre opened last year but the troop needs more equipment so Lucy, who frequently gets involved in helping Steve with the cadets and their activities, decided to do her bit to help.

She said: “We were talking about them needing the equipment together and we were trying to come up with ideas of what the children could do to fundraise like quizzes and things.

“Steve said the kids are going to do a sponsored walk at Barleylands so I asked how far it was and he said three miles. I said I thought I’d be able to do that; but at the time I was finding it very hard and was in my wheelchair for most of the time.

“I couldn’t walk more than 100m really. So Steve said I wouldn’t be able to do it. I disagreed, said ‘yes I can’ and this has gone from there really.

“Three miles is a big deal for me, it would be quite impressive if I can finish it and we are going to get sponsored.

“I really just want to give something back to Steve, who works so hard and it’s such an important part of his life, and the kids who mean so much to us.”

This started months of training for Lucy; with her husband, on her own and with a physiotherapist.

But although the work has been hard and exhausting at times, Lucy believes it has benefited her health.

She said: “Steve has done marathons in the past so knows how to get training. He set me up on a plan and bought me a cross trainer too.

“For the first couple of months I was just getting on there as often as I could. I’ve also got a physiotherapist who comes round once a month and gives me exercises to do.

“The last time she saw me she said it was like looking at a different person.

“She said my walking was better, I was picking up my legs.

“So the training is actually helping my health as well; the whole thing has been a really good experience.”

Lucy is now looking forward to the event on May 21, which she will complete in camouflage gear and face paint.

To sponsor her email mrslucydavis@hotmail.com. cadets.com