A 19-year-old from a school in Bushey is going to swim the channel this year to raise money for a charity supporting spinal cord injuries.

Freya Louise Hollingsworth will be the youngest in her team of six that will swim towards France in September.

She is hoping to raise nearly £2,000 by selling cakes at Queens' School, where she is currently a student, and other fundraising events.

Freya said: "The main reason for me taking part in this amazing challenge is to say I have achieved something different to what other people my age may be doing.

"Not many 19-year-olds can say they have taken part in a channel swim, which I must admit I am rather excited about."

"I have always been a bit of a water baby, and this is the sort of thing I want to partake in."

Freya swam the entire length of the channel in a swimming pool last year in preparation. She will be raising money for Aspire, who offer practical support to the 40,000 people living with a spinal cord injury in the UK so that they can lead fulfilled and independent lives.

She continued: "I chose Aspire because I recently worked for someone who is suffering from a spinal cord injury. She is one amazing, intelligent woman. However, her injury was overlooked by the NHS and has caused her situation to worsen.

"This is not fair on her as it means that she has no confidence in herself to go outside and doesn't have the ability to do certain everyday tasks.

"I want to raise awareness and change people's perspective on those with a disability like this that is why I have chosen to swim the channel."

To donate visit: http://www.justgiving.com/Freya-Hollingsworth