A 12-YEAR-old schoolgirl who suffers from chronic arthritis has been honoured by a charity for her courage and determination.

Lucy Hawkins has been chosen as a Champion of Arthritis by the Arthritis Research Campaign for its research week this month.

The ARC is celebrating ordinary people who do extraordinary things every day of their lives, despite being in constant pain.

Lucy, of Cheltenham Road, Evesham, has had juvenile chronic arthritis - a devastating condition affecting around 14,500 youngsters in Britain - since she contracted a serious virus at 22 months.

But the rheumatic disease was not diagnosed until she was seven years old.

By then, Lucy had endured years of mysterious pain, inflammation in her joints, high temperatures and eye problems - all classic symptoms.

Her mother, Mandy, said the youngster would often wake up in the middle of the night, crying with the pain in her legs. But doctors said there was nothing wrong with her.

"I was told to go away and have a cup of coffee and to stop being a paranoid mother," she said.

"I knew there had to be something wrong with her. She had every illness that was going and it was a relief after her knee became very swollen and painful and they finally did a blood test and found out what was wrong with her."

Lucy is a pupil at Simon de Montfort Middle School, Evesham, and enjoys riding her pony.

She also likes to help her grandmother, a member of the ARC Evesham branch, with fund-raising activities.

"Despite her setbacks she's an unassuming little soul, loveable, kind and considerate and she never complains," said Mrs Hawkins.

"It's wonderful Lucy has been chosen as a Champion of Arthritis. I'm thrilled."

John Taylor, branch support officer for ARC, put Lucy forward for the honour, saying her story was one of courage and determination and she deserved the accolade.

She will be presented with her award at Evesham Arts Centre this Saturday, June 9, where she will be given a special surprise.