A teenager who has battled a medical condition for the past three years has received a Try Angle Award.

Laurel Collins, 16, won the outstanding effort and achievement in the sports or outdoor activities category for the Swale area.

Head of PE at Westlands School, Sittingbourne, Sonia Houlker and department teachers, Sarah Newman and Vicki Benbow, nominated Laurel for her spirit and maturity in her achievements as a sportswoman despite suffering from a chronic permanent migraine.

She suffers with headaches every day, sometimes so bad they can make her sick and blur her vision, but she has not let it stand in her way.

Two years ago she qualified as a football referee and she devotes hours of time as coach and assistant manager for the Swale Ladies’ under-10s team which trains at Sittingbourne Community College.

Laurel is moving on to MidKent College to study sports science so she can achieve her final goal – to become a qualified physiotherapist. In addition she has hopes of being a high-level footballer.

Her other achievements include playing for the under-17s Gillingham Centre of Excellence, completing a level 1 coaching course sponsored by the FA and has been being appointed to the FA Youth Council.

Mrs Newman said: “I put Laurel forward for her coaching of young children – a perfect example of a student giving back encouragement in the same way in which they received it.

“We are all very proud of Laurel, whose maturity and determination have been an example to all sporting youngsters in the school and elsewhere.”

Laurel said: “I would really like to thank Mrs Newman, Miss Benbow and Miss Houlker for the nomination and all their help and support over the years with my sport and illness. It wouldn’t have been as possible to achieve without them.”

Try Angle Awards are organised by Kent County Council to recognise young people who have done good in their communities or have overcome adversity.