A MOTHER and daughter duo have raised over £500 for two epilepsy charities by swimming 50 lengths each of Ringwood Swimming Pool.

Linda Light, 61, from Ibsley, and Helen Poole, 32, from Verwood, lost their son and brother David to SUDEP (sudden unexpected death in epilepsy) ten years ago and wanted to mark the anniversary of his death by raising awareness and money for the Epilepsy Society and SUDEP.

The pair took just under an hour to swim the 50 lengths in memory of David, who was 24.

David worked for Brewers decorating shop in Ringwood’s High Street and had lived with epilepsy since he was eight years old. He was on medication for the condition, but continued to have seizures. He died after suffering a seizure in his sleep in May 2001.

Mrs Poole said: “When David died it was a complete shock – he had lived with epilepsy for so long and yet none of us knew people could die from it.

“I got on the internet and researched it and SUDEP came up, and we’ve been doing odd little bits of fundraising for them ever since – mum and dad had collecting tins at their shop in Ibsley till they closed, and I run the occasional raffle.

“But as it was ten years since David died we wanted to do something extra special.”

Since David’s death there have been many innovations, including a sensor mat to go in a bed to alert people to a seizure.

Mrs Poole added: “We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of our friends and family who have supported us.

“We are very thankful to the Ringwood health and leisure team who generously gave us a free lane at the pool to complete our swim.”

n Last week was National Epilepsy Week.

For more information on the charities go to epilepsysociety.org.uk and sudep.org.