Golden girl Beth takes on world in Transplant Games
A BRAVE Radcliffe teenager who overcame leukaemia has struck gold — just weeks before competing in the World Transplant Games.
Beth Morris won three gold medals and one bronze during the British Transplant Games, which were held in Coventry over the weekend.
The 13-year-old is now hoping to repeat her success when she travels to Australia later this month to compete in the international version of the contest.
She was chosen to represent Great Britain in five swimming races after scooping a haul of medals at last year’s British games.
Her father, Jeremy, of Hollow Meadows, Ringley, said: “She did brilliantly at the British Transplant Games. She worked very hard and deserved to win the medals. The whole family is very proud of her. It was a great way for her to warm-up for the trip to Australia.”
Beth’s success comes after she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia when she was just 17 months old.
She was given chemotherapy treatment for two years and lost her hair several times.
Although she appeared to be recovering, Beth had a relapse in 2001 and eventually received a bone marrow transplant the following year.
Beth, a pupil at Bridgewater School in Worsley, has been on the road to recovery ever since and continues to be in remission.
And despite everything she has been through, she is fitter than ever and trains five times a week with both Worsley and the City of Salford swimming clubs.
Beth won gold medals at the British Transplant Games in the freestyle, back stroke and breast stroke swimming events, also recording personal best times.
She also picked up a bronze medal in the 4x100m relay race and came fourth in the 100m sprint race.
She is now training for the World Transplant Games in Australia this month.
Beth was selected for the contest after success at last year’s British Transplant Games and has raised thousands of pounds since then to pay for the trip.
Mr Morris said: “We have had various fundraising events in the past 12 months to pay for the trip and everything is finally coming together.
“Beth is nervous, but she is confident as well. She is looking forward to being part of the Great Britain team. She is a good swimmer and has achieved some good times, so if she swims well she could break a record.
“The fact that she got three personal bests at the weekend shows she is making good progress.”
3 Gold Medals
Beth competed in the British Transplant Games which took place in Sheffield from 7th-11th August 2008. The transplant games are an annual sporting event held over 4 days for children and adults who have undergone transplantation.
Beth attended as part of the Manchester Children’s team and took 3 gold medals in the freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke swimming events, which were held at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre on Saturday 9th August. During the competition she was selected to compete as part of the British Team at the World transplant games to be held in Australia during August 2009.
Beth also competed in several track events at the games, taking a bronze medal in the obstacle course, 100m individual sprint and a gold medal in the 4x100m Relay with her team mates from Manchester.”
WORSLEY MEMBER IS US STATE CHAMPION
Aimee Backhouse New Jersey State Champion 31st July 2008 Most 16 year olds finish there GCSE's and go holiday to relax. Not Aimee Backhouse though! We just received news from her dad Matt that Aimee won the New Jersey State Championship last weekend by 4 minutes and 17 seconds.
Aimee who is a resident of Walkden in Manchester has had an amazing year, racing and winning at the highest level, meeting the Prime Minister and appearing on Channel M's breakfast show to name a few highlights.
Aimee will be back in the UK to represent the North West at this Inter Regional Championships, an event she won last year.