Lots of ambition to become a vet (From Oxford Mail)

Lots of ambition to become a vet

12:00pm Thursday 7th July 2011 in Oxford By Ben Wilkinson

Hannah Halford at The Belfry Hotel where she held a fundraising auction to help her become a vet

HANNAH Halford is still battling the knock-on effects of a debilitating condition more than a decade after it first struck.

Although she has not suffered from ME since she was 15, it has still prevented her from doing what she loves.

Miss Halford, now 24, was struck down by severe fatigue when she was 13 and missed two vital years of school, which meant she did not get the exam results needed to get into veterinary school.

Now she has been offered a place at the world-renowned Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh – but has to raise £22,500 needed for the first year’s tuition fees.

The animal lover, who works as a patient care assistant at Parkwood Veterinary Group in Banbury Road, gained a first class degree in Zoology from Liverpool University after leaving Wheatley Park School.

Miss Halford, 24, from Little Milton, said: “ME meant I missed two years of school and impacted all the way through school, meaning I didn’t get the grades needed to get to vet school.

“But it probably made me a bit stronger as a person and more determined.”

She was inspired to go for her dream after her mother Fran Halford, 49, suffered a brain haemorrhage in April last year and died suddenly.

She said: “It made me want to do it even more and gave me much more determination.

“I’ve always wanted to be a vet since I knew what it was.

“I have an absolute passion to stop animal suffering and I also have an interest in science so want to understand it all.”

In all, Miss Halford has to raise £120,000 to fund the five-year course as she has already done a degree so cannot get a Government loan and does not get a discount for being an undergraduate.

She has also applied for sponsorship from animal charities, organisations, and trusts. So far, she has raised more than £6,000 Miss Halford organised an auction on Saturday at the Oxford Belfry Hotel in Milton Common and raised about £700.

Some 40 people bid for prizes including a holiday for six, two spa days, paintballing, and meals out.

Miss Halford added: “It went quite well. We had lots of donations from local businesses.”

She has worked as research assistant at Oxford University and helped out as a volunteer at Abingdon Animal Hospital for eight years.

For details visit sponsoravet-hannah.blogspot.com