A DALES teenager is to take on a gruelling 24-hour triathlon challenge in an effort to raise money for charity.

Imogen Boddy, a 17-year-old Sedbergh School pupil, plans to swim 10km from the southern tip of Windermere, run the course of the Windermere marathon and then cycle a further 25 miles back to Sedbergh on June 29 this year.

Imogen says she is keen to invest her remaining time at Sedbergh in training and completing a significant personal physical challenge having nearly completed a BTEC in sport.

Imogen, one of Sedbergh's top all round female athletes who last year won Sedbergh’s sportswoman of the year, joined the sixth form last year, coming from Malton, North Yorkshire. She plays hockey, netball, lacrosse, squash, fives and tennis, and took her first dip in open water last October.

She said: “Completing the challenge will be a huge personal achievement but I wanted to build in a sense of motivation beyond that, and have therefore decided to raise money for Cancer Research, because it affects so many people and in my short life has already affected family members and close friends, and also Re-Start Africa, an orphanage in Kenya which has links with Sedbergh School. Due to the links Sedbergh School has with the orphanage, I have had so much support from teachers and pupils, which is very encouraging.”

Imogen is seeking sponsorship for kit and you can donate to her fundraising efforts at www.virginmoneygiving.com/ImoBoddy