Guiliana aspires to Channel swim
30 June 2005
 |
| Giuliana Carassalini |
WATER is the only place that a wheelchair-bound student from St Albans is mobile so she has taken on the challenge of swimming the distance of the English Channel to raise money for charity.
Giuliana Carassalini, aged 21, was involved in a skiing accident five years ago and when her knee did not heal following an operation doctors diagnosed her with a connective tissue disorder.
Now she wants to get involved with the ASPIRE Channel Swim to help people with spinal-cord injuries.
Giuliana said: "I want to take part in the swim to prove that people can overcome their difficulties and I hope to inspire others to get involved."
She has always enjoyed swimming and sport and was the captain of the swimming team at St Albans High School for Girls. She is now studying sports science at St Mary's College and plays wheelchair basketball. She said: "I have met a lot of people through that and they were really great helping me to get used to being in a wheelchair. You have got a choice - you can either just sit there or get on and do something about it."
She will do the swim at the ASPIRE pool which has a ramp so she can get easy access to the water.
Giuliana has to use a wheelchair as her disorder, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, means that she does not produce enough collagen causing her bones, tendons and ligaments to break or damage easily.
She will be joining hundreds of other people who will be taking to the pool on September 12 to complete the 22-mile Channel distance which must be done in 12 weeks.
Giuliana is now trying to get sponsorship from individuals and businesses.
Anyone who is interested in sponsoring her can e-mail becks_sampras7@yahoo.com.
To take part in the swim contact Lynsey Coles, ASPIRE Channel Swim, Freepost Ang40106, Stanmore, HA7 4BR. Alternatively freephone 08000 370 880 or log onto www.aspirechannelswim.co.uk
All original material on this page, unless specified by another URL, is the property of Archant and may not be reproduced without permission. Click here to find out more...