Jude Burgess, who works in Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council's Tree and Woodland team, was among the thousands of competitors due to race in Lake Windermere earlier this month before the event was cancelled due to potentially dangerous algae.

 

The 30-year-old from Southport was determined to complete an outdoor one-mile swim having trained for months and received fundraising donations and pledges for the Cardiac Risk in the Young charity (CRY).

 

Staff at the new Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre marked out a one-mile course on Crosby Marina and Jude was cheered on by friends and family to complete her swim in 42 minutes.

 

Jude said: "I signed up for the Great North Swim because I enjoy swimming and thought it would be a great challenge. I also wanted to raise money for CRY in memory of Chris Haw from Southport who was a close friend of my husband.   

 

"I was really disappointed when the race was cancelled - there had been a lot of build up for me and I had been swimming four mornings a week before work. After discussing it with a few people, I decided I still wanted to complete an outdoor swim and the new Crosby Lakeside Centre was an obvious place where friends and family could come and cheer me on."

 

Jude says she has been inspired by the experience and is keen to build on her fitness during the months ahead.  She said: "I am doing the 10K run for Cancer Research in Victoria Park Southport next month and hopefully I will achieve my first triathlon next year."

 

Jude has raised over £400 for CRY through this swim - she can still be sponsored at www.justgiving.com/Judith-Burgess