A DETERMINED 21-year-old is set to take to the water and swim 500,000 metres to support a charity very close to his heart.

George Bell from Preston, will be embarking on his charity swim over 365 days to raise money for Breast Cancer Care.

George, who will be training to be a paramedic in September, said: "My grandma suffered through and survived breast cancer and has been clear for a little while now.

"However, whilst she was suffering Breast Cancer Care supported her. That really touched us and I just felt it was right to try and give something back.

"I have been swimming since I was a young boy and I feel very at home in the water. I think that this swim is a very good opportunity to push myself further than I have before, all for such an amazing cause.

"My target is of course the 500,000m maybe more if I can get there, all whilst trying to raise £2,000, but hopefully as much as possible.

The swim, which starts this month, works out at a total of 20,000 lengths of a 25m swimming pool.

"I chose Breast Cancer Care as the charity is very close to my heart. They offered unending support to my grandma whilst she was in the darkest depths of the disease.

I am aiming to complete this challenge with between two to four weekly swims ranging from 2,500m to 5,000m plus.

I will be mainly swimming in the sea - weather permitting - or Weymouth Swimming Pool."

Speedo have agreed to support George's charity swim by supplying me with their swim wear.

George is also being supported by Clif Bars and The Swim Hat Company.

Every year nearly 55,000 people are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK,the equivalent of one person every ten minutes.

For more information visit breastcancercare.org.uk/donate/how-your-support-helps

To sponsor George visit justgiving.com/GBigSwim/

CONTACT ME:

t: 01305 830985

e: meghan.hindley@dorsetecho.co.uk

twitter: @DorsetEchoMeg