Dane Court pupil Louise Carroll makes a splash for Pilgrims Hospice

Mum Claire Dinnes, grandma Pat Dinnes, Louise Carroll, Frank's wife Sarah Stivarious and grandad Ron Dinnes

Broadstairs student Louise Carroll dedicated some of her half term holiday to swim an incredible 200 lengths in memory of her friend and school staff member Frank Stivarious.

Dane Court Grammar pupil Louise was raising money for Pilgrims Hospices who cared for Frank when he battled cancer in October 2017 and hopes to raise in excess of £200.

The 13 year old said: “I used to speak to Frank every morning when Mum dropped me at school.  He was always such a happy and friendly face and we were all very fond of him.”

Parents Claire and Neil are really proud of Louise’s fundraising.  Claire said: “She wanted to do something positive and raise awareness of the wonderful work that Pilgrims Hospices do.  Her friends and teachers at school have been really supportive.”

Frank’s wife Sarah, who is assistant head teacher at Dane Court Grammar, supported Louise during her 5000-metre swim at Ramsgate leisure centre, along with Louise’s mum Claire and grandparents Pat and Ron Dinnes.

Sarah said: “I’m so impressed with her commitment, I’m sure Frank would have approved of her efforts, she is a very caring and kind young lady.”

A second swimming challenge

Louse loves swimming and began at an early age.  She currently attends Broadstairs Lifeguard and Swimming club at Ramsgate Pool.  She also attends Dover Channel Training from May to September.

Along with her 200 lengths of the pool, she will be swimming approximately two hours daily from Sunday, May 27 to Friday, June 1 around the bays of Jersey with a group of swimmers headed by Sally Minty Gravett MBE.

Louise hopes to raise as much as possible from her friends and family but urges anyone to click on the donate page directly on Pilgrims Hospices website if they wish to support her www.pilgrimshospice.org/donate.

Your Leisure manager at Ramsgate Pool Gavid Vickers, who kindly gave Louise a free lane in order for her to complete her charity bid, said: “We are delighted to have helped with Louise’s fundraising swim. We are always keen to support young people who want to help make a difference within our local community.  We congratulate her on her amazing efforts.”

‘Incredible’

Karen Kenward, community fundraising manager for Pilgrims Hospice Thanet, added: “We are delighted to have the support of such a dedicated young fundraiser.  Louise is doing a wonderful job of raising vital funds and awareness of our services. Her 5000-metre swim was actually over three miles, that’s quite incredible. We wish her lots of lucky with the sea swimming in Jersey later this year.”

Each year Pilgrims supports hundreds of local people coping with a life limiting illness and their families. The charity offers a range of services: from end of life care given on its wards, to its Wellbeing and Social Programme supporting people after they are diagnosed to live well and stay independent.

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