SHOWING qualities that members of the Armed Services would be proud of, a Kelly College student is raising money for the Help for Heroes charity in a wheelchair challenge.

Ginny Butler, 13, who is wheelchair-bound, is set to push her way through a 13-mile course on August 13 around Burrator Reservoir and intends to complete the task on August 17.

The plucky teenager, who breathes through a tracheostomy, is full of admiration for the wounded servicemen and women and her motivation comes through her understanding of how they have to adapt to life in a wheelchair.

She said: 'I chose the charity Help for Heroes because being in a wheelchair means I know what it feels like when others tell you what you can and can't do.

'This challenge is to show people that even if you're injured or disabled you can still push yourself to the limit.'

The half-marathon distance will take more than five days, purely because of concerns over how much strain the course would put on her wheelchair.

She aimed to raise around £500 pounds for the military charity, but her inspiring idea has taken off with friends and family and Ginny, whose father was in the Army, has already raised more than £2,300 — including money raised from selling 250 cakes made by Ginny and her friends at school.

Ginny's mother Sally Butcher said: 'The push itself is going to be quite uncomfortable; the ground at the reservoir is quite bumpy which will make it more of a challenge for the wheelchair and Ginny herself. She's never done anything like this before, it will be the longest distance Ginny has travelled in one go.

'We are hoping she will finish it in the five days, but it may take longer depending on how she feels.?Whatever happens we will definitely complete it in a week.'

The money raised will go towards Help for Heroes' work directly with wounded servicemen and women across the UK.

Ginny says she is thrilled with the generosity of donations so far and looking forward to her challenge.