KIRSTY Ashton has overcome a rare medical condition to raise money for a charity that once helped her.

The 13-year-old has neurofibromatosis (NF), a genetic disorder that has led to her spine curving, forcing her to wear a restrictive body brace 24 hours a day.

But Kirsty, from Wythenshawe, has not let that stop her drive to raise £1,000 by Christmas for the Wish Upon A Star organisation to send sick children to Lapland.

She recently organised a car boot sale as well as selling homemade badges and homegrown tomatoes.

Kirsty has been fundraising while surgeons prepare her for corrective spinal surgery to remove the tumours on her back caused by NF.

Important

And her positive attitude has won Kirsty a place on the shortlist of the Greater Manchester Police Young Citizen of the Year Award.

The keen drama student was nominated by the headteacher of her school the Altrincham College of Art. Her dad John said: "Kirsty was taken on holiday by Wish Upon a Star a few years ago and she really wanted to help give that opportunity to other children.

"It is an important time for her with the planned surgery but she doesn't let it limit what she wants to do."

The overall winner of the Manchester Evening News-backed award to be announced later this month will receive £1,000 from Barclays to give to charity, £1,500 holiday from My Travel, £1,000 spending money from Manchester Airport and a VIP day out at Manchester United. All the finalists get £100 from Barclays to donate to charity.