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Nottinghamshire teen's husky sled races for charity

News imageBBC Shauna Ward husky racingBBC
Shauna first started racing huskies after having open heart surgery four years ago

A 16-year-old born with a hole in her heart is to take part in her first sled dog racing world championship.

Shauna Ward, from Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire, races her team of five Siberian huskies around the country to bring in funds for the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

She had open heart surgery when she was 12 years old, and began sled racing to thank the charity for its help.

British champion Shauna will go for the world title in Poland in November.

News imageShauna Ward husky racing
Shauna has a team of five Siberian huskies that she takes on sled dog races
News imageShauna Ward husky racing
In the four years since she started racing Shauna has raised money for the BHF, which has named her one of its 10 quirkiest fundraisers of the year

Shauna still has a leaking heart valve but runs about four miles every two days to keep her huskies exercised.

She hopes to be able to take part in sled dog races around the world, including the famous 1,150-mile Iditarod race in Alaska.

"I just have a bond with my dogs, every time I got out running with my dogs, I just know that it's going to be a good run," she said.

News imageShauna Ward husky racing
The need to regularly exercise huskies led to Shauna's success at sled dog racing