Hero mum in 23-hour loch swim
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A QUICK dip in a chilly loch is more than enough for the bravest of swimmers but when Helen Beveridge stuck her big toe in the water she meant business.
The tenacious mother-of-two stepped right in and swam round the clock completing a length of Scotland’s longest loch in just over 23 hours.
And the motivation behind such a brave-hearted stint?
To campaign for others battling the same "destructive disorder" that is taking its toll on her two teenage daughters.
Mrs Beveridge’s daughters Shona (17) and Kelsie (16) have been diagnosed with Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC) and Niemann-Pick UK is supporting them.
The Inverness mum, who swam across Loch Awe in 23 hours, 29 minutes, and 55 seconds, after notching up earlier lengths of Loch Lomond, Loch Morar, and Loch Ness, has raised more than £4000 for the charity closest to her heart.
And she is eternally grateful to her team for putting up with her grumpiness.
"Thanks go to my crew and observer for seeing this swim through," she said.
"They have had to deal with a lot including broken steerage for the boat’s main engine, pitch-black navigation, and me getting a bit irritable at times.
"Thanks also to my wonderful family and friends who have followed this swim, made loads of lovely comments and supported my fundraising."
Niemann-Pick disease is rare but its consequences on the brain are devastating, affecting mobility, speech, and the thought-process.
Funding is needed to research for a cure. Last year, Mrs Beveridge’s eldest daughter Shona completed the 500-mile Rickshaw Challenge for Children In Need.
To support Mrs Beveridge visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Helen-Beveridge-swim
