Girl's charity walk for hospital that nursed her back to health

Rachel Swales, of Stamford Bridge, East Yorkshire, was struck down by an ailment on Christmas Eve which developed into sinusitis, which is normally no worse than a bad cold.

But by a million-to-one fluke in Rachel's case the inflammation spread to the membranes of the brain – giving her at one stage only a 50 per cent chance of survival.

However, the plucky Woldgate College pupil, who was rushed to Leeds General Infirmary for a three-hour operation in December, amazed medics by leaving hospital just seven weeks after taking her first post-operative steps.

Yesterday, using a wheelchair, she completed a one-mile sponsored event from Stamford Bridge to Gate Helmsley joined by crowds of local people to help raise cash for ward 48 at Leeds General Infirmary, the neurological ward for children where Rachel was cared for.

Her mother Dawn said: "It went absolutely fantastic …unbelievable. We expected 50 people to turn out and got more like 250 to 300.

"She managed to do the whole mile in a wheelchair, which she only used because of the distance."

It is hoped to raise 7,000.