A GIRL who wrote a book about enduring gruelling surgery has been given a unique experience at an RAF base to celebrate her courage and inspiration to young people.

Caitlyn Manley, 12, visited RAF Leeming, near Bedale, after winning the Inspiring Young Woman of the Year title in awards launched by Redcar MP Anna Turley, in memory of one of her predecessors, Mo Mowlam.

Caitlyn had been nominated for the Redcar and Cleveland Inspiring Women awards by her mother, Karen, after undergoing the operations to correct a condition that had affected her legs from birth. Both her legs were broken in three places and fitted with external metalwork and frames for six months at a time.

During her recovery, Caitlyn wrote a book detailing what she had been through.

Staff at James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough were so impressed by her story that they asked her to share her experience on the trauma ward with other patients undergoing similar operations.

The category Caitlyn won was sponsored by RAF recruiters from the Armed Forces Careers Office (AFCO) in Newcastle, which a unique experience day at RAF Leeming to celebrate.

Caitlyn and her family were given a tour of the base - which has a primary role of training for and supporting UK and expeditionary air operations - including the historic training facility at the site now occupied by RAF Leeming, which was originally developed during the late 1930s.

The site has been used as a heavy bomber base, night-fighter base and a Flying Training School, before it underwent major redevelopment in the mid-80s.

After visiting the air traffic control tower, Caitlyn was served her favourite meal, a fry-up,by the catering staff in the officers mess, followed by a visit to 100 Sqn to see a Hawk jet and try on some of the safety equipment.

The finale was a race around the station go-karting track which Caitlyn won.

She said: “ I can’t wait to get back to school and tell all my friends what an ace day I’ve had. Sitting in a Hawk is amazing. I can’t believe how many buttons there are.”

Cpl Julie Bustard from AFCO Newcastle accompanied Caitlyn on the day.

She said: “AFCO Newcastle chose to sponsor the award as part of a wider campaign to encourage young women to look at the RAF for a future career, promoting jobs that they previously thought that they couldn’t do – such as engineering and mechanical maintenance. Caitlyn and her family are wonderful. Hosting them at RAF Leeming for the day was an absolute pleasure. Caitlyn is a remarkable young girl who is an inspiration to us all – she proves anything is achievable if we put our hearts into it.”