A WOMAN has raised £750 for the Alzheimer’s Society after taking part in her first triathlon at 44.

Jenny Veitch, from Gilling West, Richmond, was inspired by her eldest son’s triathlon competitions to take on the challenge in memory of her father in law who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2007 and died in 2013.

She entered the Brownlee Triathlon at Harewood House, near Leeds, in September after training hard in open water at Ellerton Lake, near Scorton.

She said: “Alzheimer’s is a dreadful disease which takes away the person from the inside out.

“It is distressing for the patient and difficult for the family. I have held a few fundraising events at home involving coffee and cakes but I wanted to give myself a challenge.

“The race itself was really tough - very murky water in the lake and a hilly cycle and run route.

“But the whole experience was amazing and having family and friends cheering me on was fantastic. My children met Alistair and Jonny Brownlee, which was probably the highlight of their day, as well as seeing their mum cross the finishing line of course.”