Hannah battles back to compete for Britain (From Gazette & Herald)

Hannah battles back to compete for Britain

HELMSLEY teenager Hannah Swift has a sporty summer ahead of her as she heads to the World Transplant Games and the British Transplant Games.

Hannah, 16, who had an emergency heart transplant when she was nine and has also suffered from cancer, will be representing the country in Nancy, France, in three events.

Hannah, who must fit in her GCSEs at Ryedale School before she goes, said she was busy practising for her first appearance.

"I'm competing in badminton, ball throw and ten pin bowling," she said.

"I used to do swimming in the British games with my team from the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle before my cancer, but I can't do that now."

Hannah was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2001, but has been successfully receiving chemotherapy.

In the ball throw she's hoping for success. Last time she competed the tape measure wasn't long enough to record her throw.

Hannah said she hoped to raise awareness of how important transplants are through her trip abroad and the games in Britain, held at Alton Towers at the end of July.

National Transplant Week takes place from July 7 to 14, the week before she flies to France.

"I didn't even know what a transplant was before I had to have one," she said.

"You never think it's going to happen to you, but it might."

Updated: 10:01 Saturday, May 31, 2003