Woman swims round island for hometown charity

Marie-Helene Sanderson said her arms "felt like lead" during the 11-hour swim

A woman has swum 55km (34 miles) around the island of Jersey to raise money for a charity that once supported her.

Marie-Helene Sanderson, who lives in Stanley in County Durham, raised £2,255 for Just For Women, topping her initial target of £500 for the organisation that helps those affected by poverty, unemployment, domestic abuse and mental health issues.

She swam for 11 hours straight and said her support boat team shouting out the increasing fundraising total during the swim gave her "such a boost".

Charity founder Linda Kirk said Ms Sanderson was a "phenomenal woman", adding: "Every ripple created by this swim will reach out to someone in need."

Ms Sanderson completed the route around the largest Channel Island on Friday.

She had undergone extensive training in cold water to prepare herself for the solo swim under Channel swimming rules, which meant she could not touch the boat or people at any time.

The water was very changeable and choppy in parts, she said.

"It was tough and I remember having quite a bad hour where I was thinking my arms are really tired, they feel like lead," she said.

Even so, she described the challenge as "a lot of fun".

Ms Sanderson underwent training to get her used to cold water

Ms Sanderson said that during the swim she had a lot of time to think about the charity, which had helped her six years ago when she "went through quite a tough time" leaving her marriage.

Women looking for support and counselling in her area face long waiting times and financial barriers, she said.

Ms Sanderson's counsellor, provided free through Just For Women, identified that she felt "alive, free, confident and strong" while swimming and encouraged her to find ways to feel like that out of the water.

"They recognised me as a person," she said.

Ms Sanderson thanked her team for keeping her safe in the choppy waters

Ms Sanderson praised her crew for keeping her safe and said she hoped to inspire her sons, aged 9 and 12, who had also been helping her to fundraise.

"It's been important for me to show them that they can fulfil their dreams and also to encourage them to have a positive perspective of women," she said