Tawnee Woodford from Lymington swam 70 miles to raise over £2,500 for Oakhaven Hospice

A LYMINGTON mum has raised over £2,500 for Oakhaven Hospice after swimming 70 miles in a month.

Tawnee Woodford challenged herself to complete the epic distance – which is equivalent to swimming around the Isle of Wight – in memory of two family members who were cared for at the Lower Pennington Lane facility.

She swam between 200 and 300 lengths each day at Elmers Court Hotel’s swimming pool in a bid to complete 7,000 lengths within a month. Tawnee said: ”I took up swimming when things got tough in my own personal life, I’m no professional swimmer, believe me.

“I knew my three beautiful children were really proud of their mum for raising money for charity that has helped spur me on.”

Staff at Elmers Court supported Tawnee throughout the challenge with free coffee, and the business also donated her monthly membership fee to the fundraiser. Throughout the month fellow leisure club members also joined her in the pool to offer encouragement.

Tawnee completed the challenge in memory of her grandmother, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2004, and her uncle Jamie, who lost his battle to rare bile duct cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, in 2024 at the age of 49.

After starting her swim on 1st September, Tawnee completed the challenge on 24th September to coincide with National Fitness day. The challenge raised £2,552 for Oakhaven Hospice.