MEET the woman who has come on leaps and bounds after spinal surgery and is now preparing for an even bigger leap from the top of the Trafford Centre. 

Nicola Stewart, from Padgate, appeared in the paper in 2006 aged 12 following 10-hour surgery to correct a curvature to her spine. 

But eight years on the law student at Leeds University is now hoping to raise cash for the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, where she was treated, and awareness of scoliosis to support others. 

The 20-year-old added: "I had to go back for a lot of check-ups and could always tell when someone had the same condition and wanted to reassure them it was going to be alright. 

"It's a common condition and a few months ago a 10-year-old girl a friend knows found out she was going to have the same surgery and was worried. 

"I was doing my end of year exams so I couldn't go to see her but I wrote her a letter and gave her a little box of all the things she would need in hospital and I'm hoping she will be there to watch the abseil."

Nicola will be taking on the 200 foot challenge down the bell tower at the Manchester shopping centre on Saturday as a thank you to the hospital that treated her. 

She was diagnosed aged five after her mum was found to have the hereditary condition. 

Initially her spine was curved at 17 degrees before a dramatic increase to 30 degrees and then 50 degrees before it was decided she would need surgery. 

Nicola added: "I was in a lot of pain as it starts to twist your rib cage too and was crushing my lungs and heart. 

"I would struggle to breathe because my lungs couldn't expand and had difficulty with any kind of physical activity. 

"I don't think at the time I fully appreciated how major the surgery was. 

"It was difficult at first as it would make me sit up really straight but as I've got older, people just compliment me on my posture!"

To donate, visit justgiving.com/nicola-stewart16.