Teenager Charlotte Whale has collected a special school award from sporting hero Jamie Staff.

The 13-year-old, from Bean Close, Great Chart, has been fighting a mystery illness, which means she can't walk, since she was born.

She received a community award from the gold medal-winning cyclist for making significant contributions to student life at Christ Church High School, Ashford.

Her mother Lori this week praised the bravery of her wheelchair-using daughter and said the award had boosted Charlotte as she prepares for her latest spell in hospital with her normal light-hearted humour.

She said: “It was great and typical that she was selected for her overall efforts and for helping others but she was completely unaware of the significance of the Olympic cycling star.”.

Now after two recent falls she will be back in Guys Hospital next week for an operation to rebuild her hip to improve her balance. It is expected to take at least 10 days.

It is the latest setback for the youngster who in the summer of 2007 travelled for pioneering but painful stem cell treatment in the Dominican Republic.

Public support for the Kentish Express backed Help a Whale to Walk appeal raised £17,000 for the treatment they hoped would improve muscles and enable her to walk and lead a normal teenage life.

Mrs Whale said: “From the waist up she is improving and she is doing very well but finding she has no hip bone and had been balancing on muscle only was a terrible blow - but we will overcome it”.

For full report from the awards, plus more pictures, see next week's Kentish Express