An Angus woman has raised more than £1,200 for charity in memory of her friend by swimming the breadth of the River Tay.
Alison Anderson, from Carnoustie, a member of Dundee sporting institution Ye Amphibious Ancients’ Bathing Association, took just over two hours to cross the eight miles from Balmerino in Fife to Broughty Ferry.
The 49-year-old mother of four presented Marie Curie Cancer Care, who provide free professional nursing care to the terminally ill at home, with a cheque for £1,245, the proceeds of her sponsored athletic endeavour.
That money will now be used in the local postcode area to provide more than 62 hours of free high-quality hands-on care to individuals with a range of terminal conditions, including cancer, at the end of life at home.
Presenting the cheque to Hazel Mitchell, the vice-treasurer of the charity’s Dundee Fundraising Group, Alison spoke of her admiration for the free nursing service which allowed her friend the dignity of choice at the end of life.
“Marie Curie were absolutely brilliant,” she said. “Roni wanted to be at home at the end and they were wonderful.”
And while the family have asked to remain anonymous, Alison knows how much they value her loyalty, friendship and the selfless dedication she demonstrated to achieve such a feat of physical endurance.
She said: “Raising money for Marie Curie was a natural choice and I’m really pleased that the money will be used in this area to help another family in need.
“I know Roni would be very proud of me and very happy that I’ve managed to do this.”
Petra McMillan, the patron for Marie Curie in Dundee and Angus, praised Alison’s efforts in memory of her friend.
“We greatly appreciate Alison’s huge personal achievement in memory of Roni.
“We know that the majority of people facing a terminal diagnosis would want to be at home at the end and yet most of us still die in hospital, the place we’d least like to be.
“Currently we have to turn away one family in two who come to us in their hour of need but, with support from people like Alison, we can reverse that trend.”
More than most, Alison knows the value of grabbing life with both hands. Last year she was given the all-clear from her own breast cancer battle which began six years ago.
She said: “You’ve got to live every day like it’s your last, you never know what is ahead of you. I thank my lucky stars that I’m here and able to have done this at all.”
Visit www.mariecurie.org.uk or contact petramcmillan@sky.com or 07717 810365 for more information about the work of Marie Curie Cancer Care in this area or to support the charity.