A SLIMMING World member from Flintshire recently swam from Jersey to France in an effort to raise money for a charity close to her heart. 

Karen Reid, from Flintshire, attends Buckley's Swimming World group and completed the 15-mile swim earlier this month in aid of Alzheimer's Society. 

The swim took Karen eight hours and 23 minutes in total, which she did non-stop. 

Karen has been a keen swimmer, since she joined Mold Masters swim club shortly after her 50th birthday in 2018. Since then, she has completed swims round local lakes as well as a relay swim round Jersey amounting to 41 miles. 

Karen during the swimKaren during the swim (Image: UGC) Prior to covid, Karen had lost a large amount of weight through the Slimming World group, but following the passing of her father, Derek, to Alzheimer's in November 2023, she put more weight on. 

After joining the Buckley group just after Christmas, Karen has since lost almost three stone as part of her training for the swim. 

Karen said: “Prior to covid I had successfully lost weight with Slimming World, however during those difficult years, like so many others, I lost focus on my healthy eating and my Dad was also diagnosed with Dementia.

"Sadly my Dad lost his life to Alzheimer's in November 2023 and I put even more weight on as I grieved.

"I decided after Christmas 2023 to go and join Tracey's group. I walked through the door of the Hawkesbury Community Centre on December 27 and Tracey and the members made me feel so welcome.

"I have now rediscovered my love of cooking and eating healthily. Our children have left home but my husband loves the meals I cook."

Karen after the swimKaren after the swim (Image: UGC) Tracey Evans, the Buckley group leader, said: “Myself and all the members are so proud of Karen and of what she has achieved.

"When she walked into the group after her swim everyone cheered, she truly is an inspiration.

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"Since joining group, Karen has lost nearly three stone and has told us how she now has a whole new mindset and knows that the behaviour changes she is making and also being kind to herself, will help her keep slim for life when she achieves her target weight."

Karen added: “The group is fantastic, with Tracey’s amazing guidance and the fun we have, the support, the laughs and the encouragement from everyone each week. There are so many people there, achieving their weight loss goals. It's just inspiring!

"I knew if I managed to complete the swim I wanted to be able to be proud and have photos of my achievement. I didn’t want to look at those photos and wish I looked different or slimmer."