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Sporty girl with Down's Syndrome nominated for award
A young girl with Down's Syndrome has come leaps and bounds since surviving open heart surgery as a newborn.
Ten-year-old Lucie Fickling weighed just seven pounds at birth and under went major surgery for a heart defect aged just three months old.
Despite a difficult first year, the sprightly youngster has gone on to win top awards in scouting and gymnastics.
Lucie joined the First Northolt Sea Scouts, based in Dabbs Hill Lane, Northolt, as a beaver four years ago. After months of hard work to collect 15 badges, two weeks ago she was awarded the Chief Scouts Silver award - one of the highest accolades for a young cub.
But that was not her only taste of success.
The sporty youngster has travelled to Florida to compete in the World Cheerleading Championships and recently won two silver medals for the vault and floor at the regional finals of the Gymnastics Movement for People with Disabilities.
And now Lucie has been nominated as Young Person of the Year in the Ealing Gazette's annual Pride in Our People awards by her proud godmother Dawn Ward.
She said: "She's so enthusiastic in everything she does despite her disability and she never lets it hinder her. She does find things difficult but she perseveres and perseveres until she gets there."
Her mother Tracey Fickling said: "The first three months of her life she slept and we couldn't do anything with her because of her heart. She was in hospital for three weeks and slowly progressed.
"She's excelled so much. She loves her gymnastics. She works so hard and she's a determined little girl. It makes me so proud because she has to work so hard to achieve what she does."
Tracey said joining the scouts was a great opportunity for Lucie, who attends Hedgewood Special School in Hayes, to mix with mainstream children.
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Just shows what you can achieve when you try. An inspirational young lady.
Just shows what you can achieve when you try. An inspirational young lady.
I've had the great pleasure of meeting Lucie, a wonderfully happy and lovely girl who is an absolute pleasure to spend time with. Not only is she a credit to her family, but is an absolute credit to herself - nothing will stop Lucie! I look forward to hearing about her many achievements in the future - the sky is the limit for this very special young lady!
I have known Lucie since birth being her great Aunt, she is a beautiful child and has overcome many obstacles in her young life she spreads sunshine from her very happy nature and she is such a pleasure to be with my hope is that Lucie continues to live her life to the full.