INSPIRATIONAL Francesca Dean is no stranger to challenges, which is why she has decided to take part in a 10k Race for Life in her electric wheelchair.

The Blackburn College student was starved of oxygen at birth leaving her with cerebral palsy, which compromised her upper and lower limbs.

Now she is a confident young woman determined to raise awareness and understanding of cerebral palsy and disabilities and willing to go into schools to share her story.

Francesca said: “What I want to do most of all is make people see me, not the wheelchair, I am a lot more than just someone in a chair.

“When I was asked by a pupil why I was in a wheelchair I just told her that my legs don’t work, you just have to make it easy for them to understand.”

She attended Stepping Stones Nursery in Haslingden and then spent a year at Tor View Special School while arrangements were made for her to attend mainstream St Mary’s CE School in Rawtenstall.

Francesca, who lives with her dad Terry in Stacksteads in a specially adapted house, said: “My belief is anything is possible if you work hard at it and you are prepared to put in the effort."

The 21-year-old went on to attend Haslingden High School where she gained 10 GCSEs before joining AccRoss College studying travel and tourism.

Francesca is now a business studies student at Blackburn College and is aiming for a job in the travel industry.

She said: “I will be completing the Race 4 Life 10k for Cancer Research UK at Heaton Park in Manchester in July.

“I am in training and am going to the gym to improve my upper body strength and I will be going to Heaton Park to check out any problems with the paths.”

She also needs to check out how long the battery in her wheelchair will last. Francesca will be accompanied in the race by carers Rebecca Nuttall, Jade Haworth and Lara Olayinka.

“I have had a few members of my family affected by cancer,” said Francesca. “In October my great uncle John Hagans, was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given three days, but he is still with us.”

In 2004 she led a campaign to get an accessible roundabout in Western Park, Stacksteads, and succeeded.

To sponsor Francesca log on to https://www.justgiving.com/francescadean27.