A DISABLED woman has taken the world of fencing by storm just five months after taking up the sport.

Megan McEvoy, 23, of Chorley Old Road, developed a chronic multiple neurological condition while studying a chemistry degree at St Andrew’s University.

The condition which started in her left ankle has progressively spread up the left side of her body leaving her skin painful to the touch and making her unable to walk any distance.

The condition became so painful that the super fit Megan, who was a trampolinist and a jujitsu black belt, was forced to put her university studies on hold to return home in March, 2017 on medical leave.

She said: “I was doing really well with my studies and enjoyed my sport and to go from that to not being able to walk and using crutches and eventually a wheelchair to get about was a difficult thing to swallow and I became depressed.”

Megan showed her determination to come to terms with her condition whilst back at home by taking up wheelchair basketball and fencing and it was the latter where she made most progress.

“When I came home I started with wheelchair basketball but because it was only once a week I decided to opt for another sport which happened to be fencing.”

And after just five weeks of fencing, she was entered into June’s British Disabled Fencing Association National Championships in Northampton, where she came away with she came away with a silver and two bronzes.

And as if to prove that Megan’s prowess with an epee, sabre and foil was no fluke her coach David Varey upped her training schedule to take in weekly two hour training sessions, not just in Bolton, but also in Clitheroe and Blackpool, where she trained with London Paralympian fencer Justine Moore.

Last week, Megan competed at the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation competition in Budapest where she won a bronze and two silvers and also picking up a gold by beating Justine for the first time ever in the epee discipline.

Megan, who is planning to return to her university studies in Scotland in January, has now set herself twin goal of reaching the World Championships, which will be held next February in the United Arab Emirates and the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

“The fencing has given me something to work towards and it means I don’t have to dwell on my condition as much and creates something positive to come out of being disabled.”

To help progress her goals Megan has set up a fundraising page and if you would like to help her reach her dream go to https://uk.gofundme.com/Megan-Mc-Wheelchair-Fencer