A DARLINGTON woman is keeping her family tradition of more than 30 years alive while raising money for two important cancer charities.
Susan Elliott-Lyall and her family have taken part in Swimathon since the late 1980s.
Alongside her daughters, she wants to keep the family tradition going in memory of her parents, Wallace and Hazel Elliott, who died of cancer two years apart, both aged 81.
The family has raised an estimated £12,000 in total since it launched as a national annual fundraising event.
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Swimathon takes place from May 6-8 at pools and venues across the region.
Any swimmers who cannot make one of the organised sessions can sign up to MySwimathon, which takes place from April 29 – May 15, and choose a time and venue that suits them.
Susan and her daughters, Emily Elliott, 48, from Darlington, and Lucy Owen, 36, are participating in MySwimathon and plan to cover 200 lengths in the pool at the Dolphin Centre in Darlington to raise even more money for Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie.
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Wallace suffered from prostate cancer which spread to his hips causing one of his legs to give way. That resulted in a fractured spine which left Wallace paraplegic for almost three years before his death in 2009.
Hazel died in 2011, she had an inoperable tumour in her liver, which had spread from her lungs, and died just three weeks after her diagnosis.
“After dad died, mum suffered a few mishaps which affected her mobility. But she missed dad dreadfully. They had been married 60 years.
“I was only six months old when he first took me to a swimming pool. It was his idea all those years ago to take part in Swimathon.”
The family has averaged £400 fundraising each year they have taken part in Swimathon.
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Susan said: “My family and I understand all too clearly why events such as Swimathon are so vital to support the work of charities like Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie.”
Swimathon has raised more than £55m for charity since it began. This year will also see the Swimathon Foundation donate £2.50 from the entry fee of everybody taking part at an official Swimathon venue to help protect these pools for the future.
Lisa Millett, Cancer Research UK spokesperson, said: “One in two of us will get cancer, but all of us can support the research that will beat it.
"From proving the link between smoking and cancer, to laying the foundations for modern radiotherapy, our scientists have been at the forefront of cancer research for 120 years.”
Jayne Waterhouse, head of fundraising for England at Marie Curie, said: “No matter what your ability is, or the distance that you do, we are grateful for everyone that is taking part and for every penny raised.
"The money will go towards helping Marie Curie to provide vital care and support on all aspects of dying, death and bereavement to people across the UK.”
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