CHARITY head Anne Mawdsley is this week celebrating the success of a sponsored swim at the Manor House Hotel, Alsager.

Mrs Mawdsley and Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer David Wilkie completed 164 lengths of the pool at the hotel on Friday evening.

The sponsored event raised £12,000 for the Alsager-based Raynaud's and Scleroderma Association, of which Mrs Mawdsley is the director.

"I can't believe how much we have raised,'' said Mrs Mawdsley.

"It has been the single most successful fund-raising event we have ever had.''

Mrs Mawdsley and her Olympic swimming partner took the plunge after being brought under starters orders by Dr Chris Steele, the resident doctor from breakfast TV show This Morning.

Mrs Mawdsley, who has the Raynaud's condition, achieved her target of completing 50 lengths, while David swam 114 lengths in 20 minutes.

"I was exhausted at the end, although it was the most enjoyable fund-raiser I have been involved in,'' said Mrs Mawdsley.

Some £3,000 of the total came from Health Perception, which presented Mrs Mawdsley with a cheque for £10,000.

The other £7,000 paid for a Seredrin study, a champagne reception and dinner at the Manor House, and the publishing costs of a book on Raynaud's.

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