Just a year ago Becca Sellar would not have been able to walk one mile.

But, thanks to a charity she credits with turning her life around, Becca is about to cycle an incredible 90km route around a Scottish island.

The 24-year-old was born with a birth defect that meant her lower leg had to be amputated and which, in recent years, had left her in increasing amounts of pain.

Becca said: "I have had a couple of tough years.

"As a child I overcame all the challenges that came with amputation - things like joint problems and infections as well as bullying.

"As I hit my 20s I started having a lot more joint problems and back problems and they left me at the point where I was using a walking stick.

"I couldn't go out with my friends, I couldn't socialise with anyone. I had just enough energy to go to work and come home and that was all.

"I felt that was it for me. I felt that I had missed out on a lot of things other young people would be doing and had missed out on a lot of things I wanted to do."

Becca was born with fibular hemimelia, a birth defect where part or all the fibular bone - the calf bone - is missing.

This means the child's legs are different lengths and there can be foot deformities and knee ligament problems.

It also left Becca's mum facing a difficult choice.

She said: "I was born with a congenital problem and my mum was told that either I would spend my life in a wheelchair or she could have my lower leg amputated.

"I had my operation when I was one year old so I didn't know that this wasn't normal or something that other children experienced."

In the last couple of years, however, Becca's health took a turn for the worse and she became increasingly isolated.

But then Becca was put in touch with Finding Your Feet, a charity set up by quadruple amputee, Corinne Hutton, to provide emotional and practical support to those affected by amputations or limb deficiency.

The charity arranged movement therapy for Becca with classes such as yoga and pilates.

From the movement therapy, Becca became interested in trying sports - and, as she says, "everything came together".

She said: "I was taking pain killers, having acupuncture, I had tried everything to try to feel better and nothing worked.

"There was a point where I would not have been able to walk a mile and now I play football, I have abseiled down Pacific Quay and I cycle.

"My life is completely different now. I do not have a day free in my calendar. I'm trying to pack in as much as possible because I know the day might come when I can't be as active any more."

Becca plays on the Partick Thistle Amputee Football Team, the only amputee football team in Scotland, which was launched by Finding Your Feet in March this year.

The young sportswoman recently travelled with the team to a tournament at West Brom, held by the English Amputee Football Association, to find out she is the only female player in the UK amputee football league.

She held her own at the tournament and the team brought home the runners up shield.

But Becca is now taking on an even more impressive challenge - cycling 90km around Arran to become the first amputee to take on the Ride Arran annual cycling event.

A demanding route for even an experienced cycling, the event should take around six hours but Becca expects it will take her longer.

Becca, who works in Motherwell, said: "I want to show what a disabled person is capable of. People forget what it is like to stand out in a crowd and, as an amputee, your life can be very isolated.

"Even if you see someone else in a similar situation you can't just approach them because they are also an amputee.

"Strangers also seem to think it's ok to pass comment.

"I would encourage anyone in a similar position to me to get in touch with Finding Your Feet and see what there is available.

"I would say to others with any form of disability to be proud of what they are and to feel proud of what they have achieved.

"Challenging circumstances are what make us strong individuals."

Corinne said: “Finding Your Feet is about encouraging amputees to realise their full potential and, as an amputee myself, I love to take on new challenges and push myself to the limits.

"Cycling round Arran is a huge challenge in itself for experienced and able-bodied cyclists so for Becca to take on this cycle is phenomenal.

"There will be so many people supporting her on the day and we would encourage anyone who fancies taking on a challenge this summer to sign up for what is always a terrific event.”

Those interested in taking part in the cycle can enter at www.entrycentral.com/findingyourfeetridearran or contact Ashley Reid at ashley@findingyourfeet.net or 07885262341.

Becca will cycle Ride Arran on Saturday, August 13. To donate to her cause see www.justgiving.com/rebecca-sellar