Julie Bradshaw Swims around Manhattan Island for Rainbows

Dr Julie Bradshaw of Loughborough completed a mammoth swim around Manhattan Island, New York, to raise almost £1,000 for Rainbows.

She has become the first documented woman to swim around the island in New York, using the butterfly stroke. She completed the 28.5 mile swim in nine hours 38 minutes.

She visited Rainbows on 1^st September to hand in her sponsorship money. She was given a guided tour of the new facilities and took time to meet Philip Yorkstone, Hydrotherapy Pool Co-ordinator, and Tom and James Parkin who regularly use the pool.

She said: “I couldn’t believe how much Rainbows has changed since my last visit. The pool is particularly impressive and, just speaking to the boys and Philip, I could see the benefit hydrotherapy makes to them.”

Some of Julie’s sponsorship money will be used to purchase specialist equipment for the pool so more children and young people can comfortably use it.

Julie is already preparing for her next challenge for Rainbows – next year she will aim to use the butterfly stroke to swim the length of the River Humber in the north of England. People interested in sponsoring Julie should contact her through her site www.getset4success.co.uk.