With Christmas around the corner, Patience Lowe has just one wish — and that is to become a qualified physiotherapist.

Her journey has been inspired by her older sister, Daniella-Jade, who suffers from spinal condition spina bifida, and has required plenty of perseverance.

Ms Lowe’s own childhood experiences of helping her sister sparked a passion for helping others that the 23-year-old is determined will culminate in a career as a physio.

She said: “My sister is the key inspiration behind what I am trying to achieve. Over the years I saw her undergo occupational therapy, hydrotherapy and physiotherapy sessions, and her improvements intrigued me.

“From a young age, I created personal exercises to help her to become stronger and independent.

“I wanted to help her enjoy life despite being in a wheelchair. Looking back, I had no idea that my aim to help Daniella-Jade would be the foundation of my future ambitions for a career in physiotherapy.”

Ms Lowe completed work placements at several Bermudian clinics and at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital before she graduated from the Berkeley Institute in 2012 and moved to Lincolnshire in England, where some family members lived.

Her early attempts to get on an undergraduate physiotherapy course were unsuccessful because her high school qualifications were incompatible with the British system.

Ms Lowe enrolled at Lincoln College and completed a Business and Technology Education Council qualification in sports and exercise science.

Further attempts to get on a university physiotherapy course were unsuccessful because of her lack of experience of work in the National Health Service.

Ms Lowe decided to undertake a BSc in sports and exercise science at Lincoln University and graduated in September.

Just a few weeks ago she found out she had finally been accepted to study the postgraduate MSc Physiotherapy degree at Sheffield Hallam University that begins in January.

Ms Lowe said: “It’s certainly been a big challenge, but I have also really enjoyed the whole experience.

“I was determined not to give up because this is my dream and I am still determined to see it all the way though to the end.

“The challenge now is raising the money to be able to afford the university course that starts in just one month.

“I have received a lot of support from my parents, my brother, my sister and many other people along the way but am still a long way short with not much time to go.”

Now she has set up a GoFundMe page in a bid to raise enough funds to pay for the course.

Ms Lowe is determined to take her place on the January course at Sheffield Hallam University and hopes to work in the NHS to build her experience with a view to having her own clinic one day.

She said: “The plan of getting straight on to a physiotherapy course at the start of my journey didn’t work, so I changed my plan, but my goal of becoming a qualified physiotherapist will never change and I will continue to keep on working hard until I achieve it.”