A BUBBLY teenager who smiles in face of a crippling condition has taken a sentimental journey back to town - to thank its gradely folk and the St Helens Star.

Seventeen-year-old Amy Rogers-Golden, who has battled against cerebral palsy since birth, made the trip from her Hertfordshire home when she attended the 80th birthday party of her grandmother Dorothy Golden, of Stanhope Street

Amy was just three years old back in 1986 when Dorothy and late husband Denis launched a fund-raising drive to buy a state-of-the-art electronic wheelchair, which the youngster could control herself. More than £5,000 flowed in as caring people dug deep, with the Star playing a vital role in featuring the appeal, and the happy result was that auburn-haired brown-eyed Amy proudly followed her auntie Mary down the aisle when she married that same year!

Her family are naturally very pleased by former Brownie Amy's development, given that she is severely physically handicapped, can only control one arm, and uses a hi-tech computer, voice-box, and word-board to converse.

However, she is bright as a button and - far from being obstacles - such things act as a spur to Amy who passed a scholarship; is studying for GCSEs; has written a song, and is to study for a B.Tech in performing arts with the Chicken Shed Theatre Group at Enfield College

Devoted mother Joan, who worked as choreographer on the Jim Davidson TV show 'The Generation Game', said: "My musical director husband Alan and I felt that we should update the good people of St Helens on Amy's remarkable progress.

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