FOR fundraiser Erica Dixon, it was a case of all good things come to those who wait when she signed up to tackle a swimming challenge.
Erica was due to swim 200 lengths of the pool at Teesdale Leisure Centre, in Barnard Castle – a total distance of 5k – in March, raising money for Cancer Research UK, Marie Curie and The Swimathon Foundation.
Unfortunately, the event was postponed due to the lockdown.
And with swimming sessions restricted to just 45 minutes at a time once the pool reopened, she had to go back three times to complete the challenge.
Undeterred, she finished the swimathon in a combined time of 115.13mins, with her dad Peter in charge of the stopwatch and keeping count of the number of lengths completed.
Erica, who has taken part in the swimathon for the past three years, thanked leisure centre staff who she said had been very supportive of her efforts along with all those who had donated to the good causes.
So far, she has raised £200 in sponsorship through her Just Giving page. Anyone wishing to donate can go online at shorturl.at/chlK0.
Erica’s swimathon also coincided with the reopening of the Marie Curie shop, in Barnard Castle, where she volunteers a couple of days a week.
