REMARKABLE Lauren Rowles has suffered some horrific moments in her young life, writes Nick Pullen.

As a 13-year-old, Lauren woke up one morning to discover she couldn’t move her legs, let alone feel them.

Numerous tests and MRI scans followed before it was discovered she had damaged her spinal cord.

She’d been struck down by a condition known as transverse myelitis, which had caused her to lose the use of her legs.

It could have been worse as Lauren also lost the use of her arms at one stage and couldn’t even feed herself.

Four years down the line, she has come to terms with her devastating disability after finding salvation in sport.

The Edwards Sixth Form College student , 17, from Catshill. has progressed into one of the best young wheelchair racers in the country.

Inspired by the London Paralympics, Lauren took to the sport two and half years ago. In that time, she has risen to the top of her sport and competed in the Commonwealth Games, where she finished eighth in the T54 Women’s 1500 metres.

Lauren recalls: “I didn’t realise what was happening to me at the time. I’d collapsed and then had a fit, but that was the outset of transverse myelitis.

“At first we thought it was a viral infection, but there had been some swelling and scans revealed inflammation around the spinal cord which had damaged the nerves.

“I spent four months in Bristol Children’s Hospital where I was completely bed-ridden.

“I couldn’t even feed myself let alone move.

“The first attack took place in February, 2012, and then I had another one in December. There were some very dark days during that period.

“It was sport that got me back up and going again.”

Lauren had competed in athletics prior to the attack and decided to join Coventry Godiva Harriers, where she linked up with coach Job King, who’d set up an academy for wheelchair racers. From that point, the pair haven’t looked back.

She has competed in countries such as France, Italy and Switzerland, in addition to taking part in the World Junior Championships which took place at Stoke Mandeville.

Lauren has an extensive repertoire and can compete in anything from a mere 100-metre sprint right up to the 10,000 metres.

But wheelchair racing could soon become a thing oft he past for Lauren, who has now turned her attentions to rowing.

Lauren insists: “I haven’t turned my back on wheelchair racing, but I just want to try something different.”

However, there’s more to Lauren than meets the eye.

Despite her dreadful experiences, Lauren still finds time to help fellow disabled youngsters.

She has become involved with the London based ‘Back-Up’ charity, which supports fellow spinal cord victims.

Lauren has been acting as a mentor and group leader, helping sufferers get involved with activities ranging from wheelchair skills to skiing.

The charity has been trying to raise funds through Children in Need and Lauren confirmed: “We want to try and reach as many young people as possible. Back-Up was there for me and helped to change my life and it’s nice to be able to give back what they gave to me.”

As a result, Lauren recently received a Princess Diana Award following a special ceremony at the Canbary Wharf-based Barclays Hub in March, after being nominated by The Back Trust.

She admitted: “I love the work, it’s all voluntary and I didn’t expect to get the award as there are so many amazing youngsters out there.”

Lauren doesn’t intend to rest on her laurels.

The former North Bromsgrove School pupil, who is originally from Cofton Hackett, already drives herself to Stourbridge and back and has her heart set on studying law at Reading University.

She has one more year remaining at King Edwards, where she is taking law, Spanish and English Lit.

College spokesperson Natasha Winter said: “Lauren is an inspiration to us all.”