One of the founders of a charity established to help people with mental health problems in Zanzibar has raised over £600 after a fundraising swim at Bala Lake.

Bronglais Hospital nurse Ruth Jennison, who lives in Borth, co-founded ZAMHS, a charity that helps provide support for mental health services in Zanzibar, in 2014 with Mike Greenwood, of Upper Corris.

Since then Ruth and Mike have raised thousands of pounds to help with initiatives and visited Zanzibar several times helping to launch new initiatives and see how the funding they have provided has helped.

Ruth has now completed her latest fundraiser after swimming 1.5 kilometres in Bala Lake on Saturday, 1 June, raising over £600.

She was supported by two friends who also completed the swim to help raise money for charity.

Ruth said: “I managed the 1.5 kilometres and will have raised over £600 for ZAMHS.

“This will really help people in Zanzibar struggling to rebuild their life after mental illness. Huge thanks to everyone who helped.

“The swim was a challenge but we did it. Llyn Tegid is cold.

“My friend Karen, who is also working in mental health, raised over £200 for the Alzheimer’s Association, and another friend Chris came along for the swim.

“Cameron, from Llanidloes, saved his money to give to me, bless him.

“Cam’s family, mum Lee, and Nain Lynne also came to cheer us on, take photos and got us coffees after.

“Lynne did a zip wire with us in 2014, which was our original fundraising event for ZAMHS.”