GEORGINA HALFORD

Hello, my name is Georgina Halford, Georgie for short and I live in Flitwick which is near Bedford.

I am 13 years old and have had Type 1 diabetes since I was 9, but I have not let it affect what I want to do.

I am a competitive swimmer and have swum for my local club, Flitwick Dolphins, since I was 8.  During this period I have reached a high level of swimming, winning the County Championships when I was 9 and winning numerous individual events in the years after. I have also reached the Eastern Region Championships in the 1500, freestyle.

Swimming competitively also means I have to train for about 13 hours a week, reaching 4000m - 6000m every 2 hours I train.

One of my ambitions is to make a solo attempt of the Channel in a few years.  This is one of the reasons that taking part in this swim is so important to me.

Diabetes UK is important to me because, although I don’t let being diabetic affect what I do, it does make my life more difficult.  I have to check my blood glucose levels and inject insulin at least 4 times a day.  Hopefully the funds we are raising will help Diabetes UK find a cure for Diabetes.

Georgina will be training in the open water at Box End Park, Kempston, Bedfordshire, from the start of May.  The staff there have been enormously helpful and the facilities are excellent.