A disabled Guinness World Record holder and Olympic torch bearer has told MP Iain Duncan Smith to 'beware of the quiet woman' as she delivered a personal birthday message.

Mary Laver, 67, a former RAF servicewoman and disability rights campaigner, travelled down from her Newcastle home yesterday (April 9) to mark the Chingford and Woodford Green MP’s 61st birthday with a personalised card on the abolition of the Independent Living Fund (ILF).

The world record holder for fastest individual journey from John O’ Groats to Lands End on a power wheelchair, embarked with disability campaigners on the 14-mile cross-London journey from Westminster to Mr Duncan Smith’s constituency office in Station Road, Chingford.

Ms Laver’s rheumatoid arthritis is so severe that she cannot walk or use her hands and has been a recipient of the ILF, which delivers financial support to disabled people so they can choose to live in their communities rather than in residential care, for over 25 years.

Under welfare reforms spear-headed by Mr Duncan Smith as secretary of state for work and pensions, the fund, which has been closed to new recipients since 2010, will be abolished on June 30.  

Ms Laver told the Guardian she had to do something before June 30.

"The only thing I can do is drive my power chair to Westminster and his constituency,” she said.

"I did Lands End to John O’ Goats but this journey through London topped it.

"The support from complete strangers has been fantastic.  

"Iain is about to make his mark on my life. He is going to imprison me in my own home for the rest of my life without a parole or right to appeal.

"My message to him is beware of the quiet woman; I am coming to get you."

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Mary Laver (centre) with Peter Hope (left) and Sue Elsegood (right) and disability campaigners at the constituency office.

Sue Elsegood, 47, from Greenwich, suffers from Muscular Dystrophy and joined Ms Laver along the route to Chingford. 

She said: "The ILF is the most vital service in my life. Without this support, I will not be able to live my life in a dignified way."

The Green Party, which supported yesterday's march, has pledged to reinstate the ILF and re-open it to new applicants. 

Candidate for Chingford and Woodford Green, Rebecca Tully, marched from Westminster to Chingford. 

Adding: "The abolition of the ILF is an action which will drastically limit people's lives and makes no economic sense. It is utterly immoral.  

"It will stop people from being able to work and get out into the community which will only result in more people ending up in residential care. 

"There is no guarantee it will be ring-fenced by local authorities."

Peter Hope, 53, also travelled down from Glasgow to show "solidarity" even though he will not be affected by the axe as the Scottish Government has agreed to continue the ILF. 

He described the move by the DWP as "reverting back to the old days". 

Over 18,000 people currently receive support from the ILF. 

In response to the ILF cut, Mr Duncan Smith said: "While I understand Mary’s disappointment that the ILF funding is being transferred to local authorities, I hope that it’s of reassurance that the government is currently working extremely closely with the ILF and ILF users to ensure that the local authorities meet the needs of ILF users from June 2015."