A KEIGHLEY woman who pledged to raise £1,000 to support people with dementia soared past her fundraising target after completing an epic swim in the town's leisure centre.
Farish House resident Mavis Richardson, who was 83 last month, (May) set out to swim 83 lengths of Keighley Swimming Baths during Dementia Awareness Week – one length for each year of her life.
She carried out the challenge to generate cash for the Dementia Friendly Keighley (DFK) group, which works to make the town a more inviting place for people with dementia.
A DFK spokesman said: "With the support of several friends – including our DFK chairman Steve Seymour – who swam some of the way with her, Mavis finished the challenge successfully over three days.
"And not only did she smash it in the water 'Magic Mavis' smashed it on the fundraising front too. As of May 28 Mavis had raised £2,082. A brilliant effort!
"Mavis’s online Mydonate page is staying open until August, and she's determined to get to the £3,000 mark by then. And who would want to bet against this remarkable lady reaching her goal?"
Mavis said “I’ve done a lot of my fundraising at Farish House events and I’m very grateful to everyone there who sponsored me.
"I’d also like to say thank you to Keighley Shared Church and the many friends and neighbours who've supported my swim."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here