Kate, a remarkable young women, has shown incredible stregnth and determination achieving her Gold Award despite facing constant battles with her health. She was born with three kidneys, a hole in the heart, a swollen brain and battles daily bouts of sickness but still managed to complete her Gold DofE programme.
Kate McDevitt, 25, from West Kensington, carried out a variety of activities during her programme including sailing, swimming for charity, hiking through the Lake District, helping in a nursery and doing work experience on the London Underground.
Her feat was even more impressive as she also suffers from hydrocephalus, a condition that swells the brain causing problems with vision and other motor skills.
Former Cambridge School pupil Kate said her DofE programme had made her realise anything is possible. "I can't believe I managed to get through it all," she said. "It seemed like a mountain to climb but I did it."
On her health problems Kate said: "It has been depressing. I haven't been able to get a job and I've been in and out of hospital all my life but my DofE programme has showed me I can achieve anything."
She participated thanks to her membership of Hammersmith and Fulham Action on Disability (HAFAD), which runs the 1st Chance Project for 16-25-year-olds, and was one of only two participants to complete their DofE programmes.
On meeting the Duke at her Gold Award Presentation Kate said: "He was fantastic and really listened to all our stories. He was an inspiration and is amazingly fit and well for his age."
Esme Young, training and progression worker at HAFAD, said: "She persevered through 12 months of volunteers work, staying away from home for nights on end."
"We have to be imaginative and flexible with the DofE requirements, making sure the principle aims and needs are achieved but adaptations made to suit our members. It requires more money but it has been a great learning curve."
Story and image courtesy of www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk