Karin Tweedale completes Great North Swim across Lake Windermere for great causes

Karin Tweedale, Hopwood Hall College student and college services assistant, who has completed the Great North Swim to raise money for charity

Karin Tweedale, has completed the Great North Swim across Lake Windermere, so that she could raise over £1,500 for two charities that are close to her heart.

Karin decided to take on the challenge after being asked by a close friend, Dorothy Flynn, to help her train for the swim, which was a challenge Dorothy had set for herself to mark her 60th birthday. As a keen swimmer and former swimming teacher, Karin was pleased to be able to help her friend and so began nine months of training in order to get ready for the big event.

It was during training that Karin decided that this would be an ideal opportunity for her to raise money for the British Lung Foundation and Dementia UK. Over the past four years Karin’s husband Iain has been suffering with an incurable lung disease and Karin has seen how their lives have changed as a result as they learn to cope and face the challenges this debilitating disease creates. In addition, three years ago Karin and her brother had to make the very difficult decision to place their father Jack in a care home because he was suffering from dementia and was no longer able to look after himself.

As Karin explains: “I wanted to raise money to support the research carried out by both charities so that in the future, people like my husband and dad can receive the support and medication they need to enable them to live as full a life as possible.”

Training, which included twice weekly early morning swimming sessions and several open water sessions in Salford Quays, which was extremely cold during the winter months certainly paid off though. Last weekend (13th June) Karin and Dorothy completed the one mile Great North Swim across Lake Windermere in an impressive 1 hour, 4 minutes and 43 seconds!

Karin, who works at the Hopwood Hall College as a student and college services assistant,added: “It was a fabulous experience and achievement. I would most certainly do it again and am planning on taking part in more open water swimming now.” 

Karin is keen to raise as much money as possible. To help Karin raise more money, you can donate on her justgiving pages.

To donate to the British Lung Foundation visit: https://www.justgiving.com/Karin-Tweedale2

To donate to Dementia UK please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/Karin-Tweedale1