A MARATHON eight-and-a-half hour trek for a Newton Abbot youngster has raised more than £1,100 for an armed forces charity.

Niquita Potter, a 17-year-old lance-corporal with the Newton Abbot detachment of the Army Cadet Force, decided to put her marching feet forward and raise some money for Walking With the Wounded’s Walking Home for Christmas appeal.

Walking Home For Christmas is the charity’s annual, nationwide walking challenge to support their work with the NHS – empowering ex-military and their families who are in a downward spiral due to poor mental health to thrive once more.

The determined cadet, who has Down’s Syndrome, set off from Haytor last Saturday morning with the goal of reaching the finishing point of the war memorial in Newton Abbot.

Said Niquita: ‘I’ve been a proud member of the Devon ACF for over five years. Doing this walk his means a lot because soldiers do so much for us. I may have Down’s Syndrome but I always like to try and help others and to achieve what I can, and I wanted to raise as much money by walking as far as I could.’

And walking far is something she did.

A slight detour to the planned route meant a few additional miles, resulting in a route march of just over 14 miles and a torch-lit finish at the war memorial at just before 6.30pm.

Niquita’s proud mum, Sarah, said: ‘She really is an inspiration. This was the longest walk she had ever attempted and despite the cold weather and rain in the afternoon she just kept going.

‘To raise over £1,000, and money is still coming in, has exceeded all our expectations. When we set out on the challenge we were aiming to raise around £60 so we really have to say a big thank you to everyone who has donated.

‘She was absolutely exhausted at the end of the walk but so elated, even more so when she realised what she’d raised.’

Niquita, who was allowed by ACF leaders to do the walk in her cadet combat uniform, was accompanied by her support team of her sister, Nadine, and Nadine’s partner, Mathew Pratt.

Halfway point of the trek was the Jolly Roger in Bovey Tracey, where a refuelling of hot chocolate took place, then it was the long slog to the finish.

‘I think Niquita has proved that Down’s Syndrome is not a barrier – just a hurdle that needs to be crossed,’ continued Sarah.

‘She has always been resilient and tackled everything life has thrown at her. She’s been canoeing, abseiling, scuba-diving, has a rookie lifeguard certificate and passed numerous swimming levels too.’

n The donations page is still active and anyone wishing to contribute should go to www.walkinghomeforchristmas.com/users/niquita-potter.