WHEN Rebecca Hindson was born she was told she would never walk.
Unwilling to accept defeat, the 42-year-old has since gone on to become a world champion swimmer and has completed a marathon charity challenge, covering 2,012 miles.
And now Rebecca, who has cerebral palsy, is finding ways to help the disadvantaged in her community – helping to set up a group to provide support for vulnerable and elderly people.
For Ilkeston-based Rebecca, giving up was never an option. She said: "I'm a twin and when we were born the umbilical cord was wrapped around my neck. It gave me cerebral palsy as I was starved of oxygen. They said I would never walk.
"But my mum and dad said they would buy me a dolls pram when I walked ten steps, so I did it and they had to."
Rebecca started swimming lessons when she was about ten years-old. Despite struggling at first because of her coordination she was put in for a gala aged eleven and won a race. After that she was picked for nationals and went on to represent Great Britain.
She said: "I went to my first international in Miami at the age of 18. I got four gold medals, for 1,500m freestyle and relays. It was incredible.
"To hear the national anthem brought it home. People were looking at my ability rather than my disability."
Now Rebecca has just completed the 2012 Challenge, where she had to swim, cycle and walk 2,012 miles in a year – despite having to have surgery midway through.
She was raising money for Littlewick, the medical centre where Rebecca receives physiotherapy.
She said: "My GP fought for five years to get me the physio I need and it's made a massive difference.
"I feel like I've got my life back and want to celebrate that. I want other people to get their lives back."
But the challenge was even more difficult than anticipated. Rebecca explained: "Four days after starting in September I was told I needed to have a hip operation. I had it done at the end of September and had to have an emergency op two days later. I lost a month of my challenge."
"Every day I swim at least a kilometre and then try to go to the gym and do 10km on the bike. Walking is the hardest."
Rebecca completed the challenge in May, raising around £700.