A local swim school owner is celebrating a remarkable achievement after successfully completing the London Marathon to raise funds for a vital children's charity. Maria Gray, who runs Puddle Ducks Chelmsford & North East London, took on the famous running challenge alongside her husband, Jon.
The couple have already raised more than £3,000 for Swim4Louey, a charity that helps underprivileged local young people learn how to swim. This special cause was established by the family of Louey Parkhurst, a local boy with a deep love for the water who sadly passed away in 2021. The charity provides essential grants to children aged between five and 17 so they can access foundation swimming lessons, lifesaving skills, and lifeguarding courses.
An Incredible Achievement
Reflecting on the incredible achievement, Maria said: “It was such an amazing experience, and we are so happy to have completed it and in under six hours too! We followed our training plan diligently through some very rainy days and have so far raised over £3,000 for Swim4Louey, which is amazing. I am so blown away by everyone’s generosity.”
The duo spent months preparing for the big day, training through the winter months to ensure they were ready for the 26.2-mile course. The money raised by the couple will stay right here in the community, giving more local children the chance to develop confidence in the water.
Why This Charity Matters
Speaking about why the charity means so much to them, Maria said: “When we were searching for a charity to support, we knew as soon as we saw Swim4Louey that this was what we needed to do. Louey was a competitive swimmer who sadly and suddenly lost his life at the age of 14. We hope to continue to support this very worthy cause in the near future.”
Generous residents can still donate to the cause online to support Maria and Jon's wonderful marathon achievement.
