A LADIES tennis tournament was held on Saturday, August 18, to help 34 year-old Lucy Dodd do “more than walk”.

The tournament, which was held at David Lloyd Farnham, raised £500 towards the £80,000 target for Lucy’s Legs. Since Lucy began fundraising for ReWalk Exoskelton Legs three months ago, more than £16,500 has been raised.

The former All Hallows Catholic School student now works as a Child Protection Co-ordinator for Hampshire County Council, having completed a university and master’s degree.

At the age of 18, Lucy was adjusting to university life when she suddenly began to have severe mobility problems. In just two months she was virtually unable to walk unaided.

Forced to leave university and undergo a series of medical tests, she was diagnosed with a spinal Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) just two days before Christmas in 2002.

She said: “It was really scary. I was frightened to see the doctor because I knew something wasn’t right.

“I was 18 years old and just thought ‘what do I do now?’. My world came crashing down so quickly.”

AVM is a rare condition that meant Lucy had an abnormal tangle of blood vessels on her spinal cord which, if left untreated, would cause irreparable damage and lead to the loss of sensation and function below her abdomen.

Having undergone a series of unsuccessful, non-invasive procedures, neurosurgeon Henry Marsh told Lucy he would undertake a surgical procedure. After eight hours in surgery, Lucy’s AVM was successfully removed.

However, further damage was caused during the operation leaving her paralysed from the waist down and with no feeling in her left side. It was unlikely she would ever walk again.

In September 2017, Lucy came across the ReWalk exoskeleton and was offered a trial. For the first time in 14 years, she was able to stand up and walk towards family and friends.

Lucy said: “It was incredible, just standing up and being a ‘normal height’ again, having conversations without craning my neck and taking in the world and my surroundings as I used to do. It’s the little things, even looking at how to use the device in everyday life - not just walking, but reaching cupboards, changing lights and dusting. Their slogan is ‘more than walking’ and it really is.”

Donations can be made at tinyurl.com/yc26wrxs.