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Diabetic swimmer meets Channel charity challenge
Schoolgirl, 13, successfully completes her part in relay to boost charity coffers
A defiant diabetic swam across the English Channel in a relay race to raise more than 2,600 for charity.
Georgina Halford, 13, of Flitwick, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was nine years old, but has not let the condition affect her passion for swimming.
The Flitwick Dolphins Swimming Club member completed the Channel Challenge 2008 from Dover to Cap Gris Nez in France with five other diabetics in 14 hours 25 minutes to raise the money for Diabetes UK.
Georgina, a pupil at Redborne Upper School, said: "I was the first swimmer and started off in the dark at 2:07am. It was quite choppy to start off with but during the day it became much calmer and everyone swam really well.
"I had to swim three times but in the light it was no problem. We had a great time, everyone supporting each other and we all swam to the beach when we got to France."
Each competitor swam for an hour before swapping with a teammate and resting in the team's support boat.
The Flitwick Dolphins member is used to long swims as she trains for 13 hours a week, swimming between 4,000 and 6,000 metres for every two hours in the pool.
Emily Jones, Diabetes UK events manager, said: "Georgina and the other swimmers showed admirable courage.
"The Channel Challenge 2008 undoubtedly required great stamina and physical endurance, and Diabetes UK is proud that these swimmers rose to the challenge for us."
Georgina prepared for the cold water of the Channel by training in the open water at Box End Park in Kempston, as well as spending two weekends training off the coast of Dover.
She won the county swimming championships when she was nine years old and has since won numerous individual events.
She also qualified for the Eastern Region Swimming Championships in the 1,500 metre freestyle. Her ambition is to swim the English Channel solo, which will be no easy task as she normally has to check her blood glucose level and inject insulin at least four times a day.
Anyone wishing to sponsor Georgina's swim can still do so by visiting the website at
www.justgiving.co.uk/georginahalford
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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