MIA Austin was a healthy 21-year-old with her whole life ahead of her until a devastating stroke left her paralysed.

Now her Flintshire family are desperate to bring Mia, who is only able to move her eyes after collapsing in November, home from hospital.

Doctors did not expect her to survive and she pulled through against the odds, but has been left paralysed from the neck down, unable to speak or move her limbs – a condition known as locked-in syndrome.

Now her parents Rick and Carol from Holywell are appealing for help to raise as much money as possible to make adaptations to the family home.

Mia’s cousin, 42-year-old Sharon Jones from Pen-y-Maes, Holywell is part of a team of friends and family taking on the Three Peaks Challenge for the cause and she is searching for more sponsors.

She said: “Mia was a perfectly fit and healthy girl and there was no sign that anything was wrong with her.

“She got up in the night and collapsed and that was it.

“She can only move her eyes now. She knows everything that’s going on, but she just can’t communicate. It’s so sad.

“She’s such a beautiful girl and a lovely person. She would do anything for anyone and never smoked or drank. It just seems so unfair.”

Sharon’s fundraising efforts are being supported by her children Tom, 22, Laura, 18 and nine-year-old Leighton.

Her sister Adele Morris and her sons James and Jay, who are also from Holywell, are appealing for sponsors.

Mia is currently at Clatterbridge Hospital near her home in Bebington on the Wirral, where she is being cared for by medical teams, but her family are keen to bring her home.

Sharon said: “There are so many adaptations that need to be made to the house.

“The fundraising is going to be constant, because there are always going to be new things that Mia needs.

“It’s scary to know that this could happen to anyone. Mia’s life was completely changed overnight.

“All she wants to do is come home and we’re just all so desperate to help her.”

More than £2,500 has been raised so far through the Mountains for Mia campaign, set up by her family.

To make a donation call Sharon on 01352 710918 or go to the website www.mountainsformia.co.uk