A YOUNG Barnoldswick woman who has undergone three heart operations has completed an inspirational swim for a cancer charity.

Megan Hope, 19, completed her one-mile swim at the West Craven Sports Centre and raised £370 for Barnoldswick and Earby Bosom Friends.

Although Megan has lived with a heart condition all her life, she chose the cancer charity as it is currently helping her uncle and supported a family friend who lost her battle against the disease in 2006.

But Megan, of Harve Park, has her own story to tell as she lives with a condition known as aortic stenosis, a narrowing of a valve in the heart.

Megan had her first surgery in January 2004 when she was 13 and in September 2004 had open-heart surgery.

Then, in November last year, she had her second open-heart oper-ation and third to replace the narrow valve.

Megan’s mother, Ann, praised her daughter’s ability to cope.

She said: “We always knew the time was coming when Megan would have to have surgery. We’ve just had to live with the condition and we don’t know any different.”

Megan said: “After the heart surgeries it was tough and painful to go through, but I know they would give me a long lease of life.”

Megan, who swam 64 lengths of the Barnoldswick pool, only had a couple of months to prepare for the swim.

Ann said: “She took her training steadily and I never thought she’d do it. But that was her aim and she did it. We were over the moon.”

Megan said: “It was nerve-racking but I knew I had to do it for Uncle John and mum’s best friend so I just had to carry on.

“I would like to thank everyone for sponsoring and supporting me.”

Among those who watched Megan complete her challe-nge were Bosom Friends volunteer Mary Brennan.

Megan’s grandmother, Audrey Murgatroyd, said she was proud of her granddaughter and paid tribute to the work of Bosom Friends.

“They provide so much help for people going through tough times”, she said.