WITH three British titles in the bag, a determined teenager from Hexham is targeting a world record.

Leukaemia survivor Alicia Armstrong (14) heads to next week’s World Transplant Games in Argentina full of confidence, after claiming three gold medals in the pool at the British Games, held in Newcastle.

Alicia was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in 2012, but received a life-saving bone marrow transplant which has allowed her to get back to swimming.

And she bettered her haul of two golds and two silvers at last year’s British Transplant Games, with wins in the 50m freestyle, 25m freestyle and 50m backstroke, and all with personal best times. She also won bronze in the 50m breaststroke.

Alicia now heads off to Argentina looking to build on her success and set a new world best time in the 50m freestyle.

She said: “I‘m racing in five events, and perhaps a relay. I think I would like at least three medals, preferably gold!

“I am hoping to beat a world record in the freestyle. I have already gone faster than the 35.6 seconds, but the difference was it was a short course of two 25m lengths, so didn’t count.

To ensure she could make it to Argentina, Alicia and her family had to find £4,000 to cover costs.

And they reached the total through generous donations from supportive members of the Tynedale community, as well as from help from the Rob George Foundation.

To prepare for the World Games, she has been working hard with one-to-one tuition from local sports coach Phil Jameson.

She is now wanting to put all her training into action on a world stage and do her country proud.

Alicia said: “I can‘t wait to go to Argentina and the opportunity to represent Great Britain is really exciting.

“I have trained really hard but I don’t compete often, so the British Games was a good benchmark to see how I am doing.

“Doing well in Newcastle has given me a real confidence boost, so I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

The Games in the North-East were a good opportunity to promote the importance of the Anthony Nolan bone marrow register and the organ donor register to people in the region.

And Alicia hopes more people will sign up as she and her fellow competitors are living proof of the huge importance it can play in saving people’s lives.