A woman from Kings Langley swam The Solent on Thursday, July 15, to raise money for Ian Pratt Motor Neurone Disease Foundation.
Diane Hewetson completed the swim from Ryde to Gosport in memory of her father, Bill Goodchild, who was diagnosed with the disease in October 2017 and sadly passed away in February 2018.
Motor neurone disease is a progressive condition that affects the brain and nerves, causing weakness and muscle wasting.
The Ian Pratt Motor Neurone Disease Foundation is a volunteer-managed charity that supports those diagnosed with and living with the disease in England and Wales.
Bill had been in the Royal Navy and sailed on warships in and out of Portsmouth Harbour.
Diane shared: “It seemed only fitting to swim across from the Isle of Wight to the mainland.”
As part of her training, Diane completed a vigorous relay swim through the night from 7pm to 7am.
On the day, accompanied by kayakers, a group of seven swimmers who were all raising money for different causes set out in a choppy sea.
Six kilometres and two hours and 31 minutes later, Diane arrived in Gosport in the pouring rain.
She shared: “I am so delighted and thankful that my Justgiving page has received so many donations from wonderfully kind people, particularly from the people who attend my Pilates classes.”
At the time of writing, Diane has smashed her £500 target and raised a total of £1,165.
You can still donate to Diane’s JustGiving page at www.shorturl.at/5MvCT
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