A BALLOON race should help a potential Olympic competitor achieve her dream.
Swimmer Julie Ann Fort released 2,000 balloons from the MetroCentre, in Gateshead, on Thursday.
The event was organised by Sports Aid Northern, to raise funds for the region's struggling sports stars.
Julie, 18, has just returned from the Junior Commonwealth Swimming Championships with gold, silver and bronze medals, making her the Junior Commonwealth Champion.
The swimmer is trained by coach Ian Oliver, who also tutors another Olympic hopeful, Sue Rolph. Every day she makes a daily trek to Newcastle from her home in Bishop Auckland, sometimes making the trip twice a day.
Julie has recently passed her A-levels and this week starts a course at Newcastle University.
Sports Aid Northern regional executive Marion Bell said: "She puts an awful lot of commitment into what she is doing. As well as doing her A-levels in Darlington, she travels to Newcastle every day for training, which is a phenomenal amount of miles. She will be a contender for the Olympics in four years."
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