A TAUNTON student who suffered a serious injury in a freak skiing accident has pledged to complete a half marathon - even if she has to hobble round the course.

Emily Yap had signed up to take part in the Cardiff Half Marathon two days before she badly injured her knee on the ski slopes of Tignes, in France.

Emily, 20, who is studying mechanical engineering at Cardiff University, had to be rescued by paramedics and was treated at the Val d'Isere medical centre before returning home for surgery.

She said: "My ski got stuck in the snow, but my body kept going and my ski didn’t release my leg.

"I was in immediate pain and because I had heard a popping sound I was pretty sure I’d badly injured it.

"I was hoping it wouldn’t be too bad and that I’d still be able to ski the next day, but when I realised I couldn’t stand up or walk on it I knew it wasn’t going to mend quickly."

Emily had suffered a complete tear of her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), ending her hockey season.

She added: "When they told me in the hospital I'd fully ruptured the ACL and would likely need surgery I started crying.

"I am a very active person and struggle when I’m not able to do sports."

Despite the long rehabilitation path ahead, Emily is convinced it won’t write off her childhood ambition to tackle the 13-mile route.

She said: "I’d always wanted to run the Cardiff Half Marathon and so I signed up before Christmas.

"When I suffered my injury two days later my immediate reaction was that I wouldn’t be able to do it.

"Now, I’m using the event as my end goal to the rehabilitation I’m going through.

"It doesn’t matter to me if I run the whole way or hobble and walk as long as I make it over the finish line."

She has started physio and may need reconstructive surgery, but says she is determined to take part in the race in October to raise money for the NSPCC's Childline.

Caroline Morgan, the NSPCC's Somerset community fundraising manager, said: "Without determined fundraisers like Emily we simply wouldn’t be able to fund the important work we do to help protect children from harm.

"We're wishing Emily all the best with her rehabilitation. She’s clearly got a great strength of character."

You can sponsor Emily ay www.justgiving.com/fundraising/emily-yap2