Barbara Draper suffers from fibromyalgia but that didn't stop her swimming more than 100 lengths of the pool in 70 minutes to raise funds for Julia’s House.

The 66-year-old completed more than 1.5 miles at Trowbridge Sports Centre to raise £800 for the children’s hospice charity.

She was inspired to dive in after reading about the charity’s Together We Care Appeal, which contributes to providing care for the most seriously ill children and their families in Wiltshire.

Fibromyalgia is a long-term condition that causes pain all over the body and extreme tiredness but, for Barbara, swimming provides some solace.

She said: “I have two married sons and four grandchildren, aged between eight and 12, who are luckily very healthy.

“And I thought if I had been in that position, where my children had a life-threatening illness, or if their children were in that position, I would hope there would be a local service like Julia’s House to help us.

“I used to organise regular Carers Health Checks when I worked as a doctor’s receptionist at Roundstone Surgery in Trowbridge, so I understand how important respite care breaks are, not just for the parents but for the siblings too.

“I have good days and bad days with my condition; I sleep very badly and I have aching joints. I have to stagger my exercise because of the fibromyalgia and have to schedule in rest days, but the cold of the pool gets my endorphins going and swimming isn’t weight-bearing, so it’s a good exercise for me.

“Neither of my parents could swim, so my first experience of the pool was when my aunt took me at about seven years old," she said. “I haven’t been able to keep out of the water ever since, and if I’m having a bad day, I feel better as soon as I get back in the water.”

Julia’s House fundraising administrator Nicky Clack said: “We’re delighted that Barbara has turned her swimming passion into a fundraising challenge for Julia’s House. She did brilliantly in achieving her target of 100 lengths in just 70 minutes.

“The money Barbara has raised will make a big difference in helping us provide specialist respite care sessions for families of children with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions.”

Along with the Julia’s House team, Barbara has been supported in her challenge by her family and friends, her Rock Choir group and the residents of Holt where she used to live.