A WEST Devon stroke victim achieved her goal of swimming a set distance for charity, despite a setback after the theft of her charity box.

Jan Demery from Tavistock, took on a ‘stroke for stroke’ challenge of swimming 150 lengths of the pool at Meadowlands and completed it last month.

Jan, who had a stroke in 2004, spent four months in hospital learning how to walk again. After major surgery three years later, her consultant suggested taking up swimming.

Jan managed to complete her 150 lengths, with the use of only one arm, which worked out to be 20 minutes of swimming non-stop per session and equalled two-and-a-quarter-miles in two hours 20 minutes.

Jan said: ‘All the money donated will go to support Tavistock Stroke Club. I would like to thank the staff at Meadowlands for their support and everyone for their generous donations.’

While fundraising before the challenge, Jan’s charity box was stolen from the desk of Meadowlands.

A team of Meadowlands lifeguards Ashleigh Dodd, Lawrence Ox-borough and Jay Taylor are now taking part in the Kernow Killer event to raise money to replace the stolen funds.

The Kernow Killer is a nine to 12-mile obstacle course, which takes place on October 29. Anyone who would like to donate to the cause can do so at Meadowlands.