A YOUNG woman left paralysed from the neck down following a botched operation, will be a picture of courage today as she carries the Olympic Torch with pride through Southend.

Rebecca Ling, 20, will transport the iconic flame in her electronic wheelchair for 300 metres along Victoria Avenue, as it nears St Mary’s Road at 11.08am.

Although she has to muster all her strength to steer her wheelchair using her chin for just a few metres, Rebecca is determined to complete the route without any assistance.

Her mum Julie, 43, who will walk beside Rebecca, said: “We’ve been out practicing in the park. Rebecca has to push the joystick with her chin, which is hard, but she really wants to complete the whole route by herself.

“I’ve told her to make sure she stops and looks around once in a while so she can look at the crowds and enjoy herself.”

Rebecca, of Runwell Road, Wickford, was left quadraplegic and unable to breathe without a help from aventilator after she went into the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, in Middlesex, aged 13, for an operation to correct curvature of her spine.

During the procedure surgeons accidently caused irreparable damage to Rebecca’s spinal cord.

She previously enjoyed an active life, despite being born with genetic condition Prader-Willi Syndrome, but now requires round-the-clock care.

In 2006, kindhearted Echo readers raised more than £7,000 to redecorate Rebecca’s bedroom and buy specialist equipment so she could come home.

In April, her family finally won a five-year battle for substantial compensation after a High Court judge ruled the hospital was at fault.

Rebecca who can paint using a brush, which she holds in her mouth, and sends e-mails to her many pals using a HeadMouse laptop, has had a special “torch holder” made for her wheelchair to help her carry it on the big day.

The youngster, who goes to Chelmsford College where she studies English and cookery, was originally due to carry the flame in Waltham Abbey. However Julie asked Olympic chiefs if she could carry the flame closer to home.

Julie said: “Rebecca is so looking forward to it but we really wanted to be local because she wants all her friends to come along and cheer her on. We are hoping it will be a flat route to make it easier.

“Rebecca is so positive. That’s why she was chosen to carry the torch.

“I’m also sure I will have tears in my eyes as I walk alongside her on the proudest day of her life.”