A KEEN fitness fan is celebrating 10 years since ditching her wheelchair after several major operations.

Jayne Shelbourne from Trowbridge, who has cerebral palsy, was wheelchair bound after six operations to help with her condition, but has made the most of having her independence back.

It was the birth of her nephew, Monte, which really inspired her to get back on her feet - he is celebrating his 10th birthday this week.

Miss Shelbourne, a familiar figure in the town, said: “My motto is to never give up.

“Being in my wheelchair made me feel trapped and I just wanted my independence back.

“Now I feel like I have my life back and I love going to the gym and swimming, I have personal training sessions to help me as well.

“My sisters Brenda, Karen and Wendy are very proud of me as they have seen my whole journey from the start.

"I just wish that my dad could see me, he died seven years ago.

"I know that I have done him proud and I am sure he will be looking down on us all and celebrating with us.

“The birth of my nephew really inspired me as I wanted to be able to see and play with him, he is also very proud of me.

“I get a bit emotional thinking back over the past 10 years as I feel like I have come so far.

“This is an ongoing process for me which the gym and swimming really helps me with.”

Miss Shelbourne is a keen fundraiser and has held many charity events over the past ten years.

She had her head shaved to raise money for children’s charity Wiltshire Wishes and has swam 40 lengths of Trowbridge sports centre pool for Bath RUH, both in 2013.

She added: “Fundraising is a hobby of mine, I really enjoy it.

“I love doing things for charity as I just want to give back to people.

“I have had to rely on charities before so now it’s my turn to give back.”

“My latest fundraising was for Stepping Stones, as my other nephew Ed who is four-years-old attends the nursery there.

“They do some really great work and Ed i sgetting on so well there.

"I just want to help them in any way I can fro Ed and all the other children there."

A cheque will be presented to Stepping Stones Nursery on Monday following her most recent fundraiser.

Miss Shelbourne is celebrating the tenth anniversary since being out of her wheelchair as well as the 10th birthday of her nephew Monte by having a specially made cake and cracking open a bottle of bubbly with her sisters and nephews at her Mum's house over the weekend.