Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Jess swims 56 miles for Airdrie grandma
Schoolgirl, 14, completes 3600 pool lengths for charity
A kind-hearted schoolgirl swam a lung-bursting 56 miles to raise money for Alzheimer Scotland after being inspired by her Plains grandmother.
Jess Ferguson, who hails from Swindon, has raised nearly £1000 for the charity, which is close to her heart due to her beloved gran Betty living with the disease.
She completed the swim, the equivalent distance of Coatbridge to Perth, in just 12 weeks.
The brave teen was nearly stopped in her tracks by a painful shoulder injury during her swim, but she battled on to complete the challenge.
Betty, who attends a lunch club in the town’s Wellwynd Sheltered Housing two days a week, is regularly visited by Jess, 14, and her dad during school holidays.
Jess said: “I took on the challenge to help support people like my gran who are living with dementia.
“I love swimming so I decided to set my challenge at 56 miles because I found out that around 90,000 people in Scotland are living with the illness.
“I then worked out that 90,000 metres is 3600 lengths which tallies up to 56 miles.
“I am extremely happy and proud now my swim is over, but am looking forward to my next challenge.
“I’m overwhelmed by the amount I have managed to raise so far as my original target was £100 and I am currently at over £800 and hope to reach £1000.”
Proud dad Ian added: “Jess is over the moon now that she has completed the challenge particularly as at one stage she was struggling with her shoulder injury.
“She was adamant that she would not go to the doctor until she had finished so she’s looking forward to some physiotherapy.
“The whole family are very proud of her drive and enthusiasm for helping others and the fact that she picked a cause that is so very close to home.
“Even though we live in Swindon, she asks to visit her gran at every opportunity and enjoys taking her out and about.”
Marilyn Boyd, community fundraiser, Alzheimer Scotland, added: “Jess is an inspirational young lady and we all thank her for all her hard work and devotion to the swim challenge.
“With around 90,000 people living with dementia in Scotland, it is our biggest health and social care challenge and it isn’t going to go away.
“We’re so grateful to Jess for helping us to challenge dementia and to her whole family for all their support.”