A nurse who helped establish a charity to help people with mental health issues in Zanzibar is gearing up for a fundraising swim in Lake Bala.

Ruth Jennison, who co-founded ZAMHS with Upper Corris clinician Mike Greenwood, is expecting to raise £500 for the 1.5 kilometre swim which will take place tomorrow, 1 June.

The money raised will go toward supporting the charity’s work in Zanzibar, with Ruth and Mike also working on an education project for mental health in Zanzibar after winning a grant from the Welsh Government.

Ruth, who has completed several fundraising swims for ZAMHS, said: “The swim is going ahead soon and it’s looking like we will raise around £500 which is great.

“I’ve not done enough training and it’s only 11 degrees apparently, but hey ho, I’m still going in the sea regularly minus a wetsuit, so I’ll give it my best shot.

“All this money will all be going to ZAMHS and will be to assist those in Zanzibar recovering from mental illness to support themselves and their families.

“Maybe to start a micro-business such as rug making, or in some people’s case just to get them on their feet and back into society being useful again, collecting wood for fires or water from the well. Simple, but sound.”

After announcing that ZAMHS had been awarded an education grant from the Welsh Government, Ruth and Mike’s education project is now starting and the pair will visit Zanzibar in October to see how things are going.

Ruth said: “The education project for mental health is getting off the ground also after the generous grant from the Welsh Government, Wales Africa grant scheme, administered by WCVA.

“Myself and Mike are going there again in October to see how it is all panning out and to visit Pemba, Zanzibar’s sister island to see how to proceed there, as we believe conditions in mental health services are much worse there.”

Anyone who would like to learn more about ZAMHS and its work or to sponsor Ruth can contact her on [email protected].