Medal-winning rowers team up in aid of Huntington's

ONE of Scotland's most successful ever Olympians has joined forces with a former rowing partner to support the battle against Huntington's disease.

- BY JOHN FERGUSON

Dame Katherine Grainger became Britain's most decorated female athlete by winning five medals in five consecutive Games, including gold in London in 2012.

She is now helping ex-Team GB teammate Sarah Winckless raise money for Huntington's after finding out her fellow rower had inherited a gene which will see her struck down with the neurological condition.

Huntington's can leave people unable to walk, talk, eat, drink and look after themselves. Symptoms include loss of control over move-ment, impaired thinking, dementia, and mental illness such as depression, anxiety and psychosis.

Katherine said: “Sarah is such a mature, wise adult but when we first met she was more of an extreme personality, living every moment to the max, the life and soul of the party.

“Anybody involved with high level international sport knows the highs and lows are immense.

“Then you realise Sarah also has this other part of her life that brings very different highs and lows. It’s an amazing privilege to learn about something so massive in her life.