A WOMAN who couldn’t swim until she was 40 is now aiming to complete a triathlon.

Farina Cahm only took her first steps into the pool late in 2014 but now she is ploughing through the lengths at Orford Jubilee Hub and is lining up a triathlon to compliment the duathlon she completed earlier this year.

The 41-year-old said: “I was a non-swimmer and then I went and did a short residential course which gave me a little bit of confidence in the water and then I signed up to adult beginner lessons at Livewire.

“I started almost a year ago and I was in the small pool at Orford for six months and I never honestly thought that I would move to a big pool but my teacher was brilliant.

“I just never got round to it, my mum and dad weren’t swimmers so it wasn’t something we’d go and do at the weekend, and then in school I think I just plodded along – it wasn’t a conscious thing it just never happened.

“It was after I had my daughter that I thought it’s a skill for life and I want my daughter to be able to swim – I would be telling her to go in the water and I was afraid of water.”

Farina, who also takes part in classes at Birchwood Leisure Centre, took part in Active Warrington’s GoTry series of duathlons earlier this year alongside her husband – and even her three-year-old daughter Layla.

She is now targeting a triathlon featuring her former phobia of swimming.

She said: “We had a really rough year because my mum died in February after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.

“GoTry has really lifted us and given us a focus – they were so supportive and all the focus was around doing that and keeping up with my swimming.

“It just makes you more determined – next year I’m definitely going to try and do the triathlon with the swimming.

“I’m so determined now and be able to say I’ve done an event like that – I’m going to go from a non-swimmer to a triathlon.”

The Birchwood resident was full of praise for the Livewire team.

She said: “They got me from hating water to doing lengths in the big pool.

“The teacher had a really relaxed style which suits my temperament – if you do it you do it and if you don’t you just keep on trying and after six months it all fell into place.

“I could’ve easily just not done it and it’s just taking that first step and giving it it a go and I’m so glad I did it.

“It doesn’t matter who you are or what background or level of fitness you have, it’s just taking that first step and having people who encourage you and the team at Livewire have been very encouraging.”

READER OFFER: The Warrington Guardian has launched a great new Fit4Warrington offer.

Over the next two weeks you can beat the winter blues with a free leisure day pass for every reader to be used at any of LiveWire’s sites across Warrington.

Whether you fancy a swim, want to take part in a zumba class, take to the badminton court or just hit the gym, our free pass offer allows you to choose what facilities you want to use each week.

Hayley Smith, Warrington Guardian editor, said: “We are always looking at ways to give our readers that bit extra and we think this free pass is a great offer.

“From Orford Jubilee Hub to Culcheth and Broomfields to Great Sankey, you can choose your centre and choose your activity.

“There are no hidden catches, simply cut out the voucher in the Warrington Guardian each week and hand it in.”

There will be a new voucher each week which can be redeemed at Birchwood Leisure and Tennis, Broomfields, Culcheth Community Campus, Great Sankey Leisure Centre, Orford Hub and Woolston Hub.

Get your second last voucher in tomorrow's Warrington Guardian. T&Cs apply.