FARNHAM resident Sallie Rogers completed The London City Swim on September 21, to raise money for Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) and The Stephen Hawking Foundation after her sister was diagnosed with the condition on July 19.

On July 16, Sallie’s sister Jo Davies was admitted to the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery for a week of tests to find out why she was not recovering from a hip replacement last October.

Then, just three days later, they received the news that Jo had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND).

Jo was transferred to Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice on August 9, where she continues to receive care.

Prior to the event, Sallie said: “Sadly this terrible disease has no cure.

“Feeling pretty useless to do anything to help Jo, I was determined to try and give back something for the fantastic care she has been receiving from the hospital and the hospice.”

She added: “Although I used to swim a lot in my younger days, I have not been swimming in at least 18 years! But I am determined to complete this swim for my sister Jo.”

After seeing an advert just weeks before the event took place, Sallie decided to take on the challenge with the target of raising £1,000 for the charities. So far, she has raised a total of £785 towards the event’s running total of £90,237.

However, “because of the weather they had to reduce the course for safety to 200m, but if we wanted to we could swim it twice, which I did”, Sallie told the Herald after the event.

Jo was able to watch Sallie complete the swim from Phyllis Tuckwell as Sallie’s children, Emma and James, managed to film a live video.

To find out more about the 2019 London City Swim, which will take place in London Docklands, go to www.londoncityswim.com.

Anybody wishing to sponsor Sallie should visit my.race-nation.co.uk/sponsorship/entry/152579.