Fiona Ross battles illness to reach for the stars

But now, fewer than three years later, Fiona Ross has turned her life around. She is close to gaining a degree at the University of York, works in a city centre pub, is a volunteer and sings twice a week at a York church.

She is also completing her comeback by entering the Miss York 2012 competition, which she says gives her a chance to represent the usually unseen minority of disabled young women.

Fiona said: “I want to show other disabled young people that no matter what your background, you can achieve anything you want to. I really hope that I can inspire other people to reach for the stars too.”

Fiona, 21, of Osbaldwick, said that when fibromyalgia – which causes chronic pain and fatigue – was first diagnosed two-and-a-half years ago, she considered dropping out of her first year at the university.

She said: “I put on lots of weight and became incredibly unhappy because I was having to sleep about 16 hours a day and my life had totally changed.

“It was a shock at 18 to find myself labelled as disabled and unable to even walk 100 metres without help.

“Fast forward to today, and I feel like a changed person. While still suffering from fibromyalgia I have managed to nearly complete my degree in Education at the University of York, I work at the Three Tuns in Coppergate, I volunteer with York Cares and sing twice a week at the church of All Saints, Pavement.”

She said statistics suggested she shouldn’t really be able to do all she does. “In all honesty, I suffer a lot because I push myself too hard most of the time, but I am happy to do so if I can help other people.

“Being a part of the Miss York competition is opening up so many opportunities for me and I am incredibly grateful to have been given this chance. I am currently planning a fundraising event for the York Variety Club, which I think is going to take the form of a recital – I am a soprano and violinist – and afternoon tea.”