A Tywyn mother who has helped raise thousands of pounds for a charity after the tragic loss of her son has donated another £630 following a sponsored swim.

Diane Wright, who lives in Tywyn and is a former head of English at Ysgol Uwchradd Tywyn, presented the Myosotis Trust, which helps youngsters in eastern Romania, with the money raised after she completed 100 lengths at Plas Talgarth in Pennal.

Diane, 65, and her family have been involved in helping to raise money for the Myosotis Trust following the sad loss of her son Gareth, an Ysgol Penglais sixth-form student in Aberystwyth, in a car crash in 2006 on the A487 at Bow Street.

Following the loss, friends of Gareth teamed up with Rev Geraint ap Iorwerth, of Pennal, and recorded a CD which they sold, raising £4,000 for the charity, which was founded by Cemmaes Road resident Carol Daniel.

Diane said after taking up swimming recently after a 30-year gap, she had decided she could turn that into a way to raise money for the charity in Gareth’s memory.

She said: “I thought I could raise some money while I was going up and down the pool and thought if I could get £100 – a pound for every length – I’d be happy.

“I did it in just under an hour. It’s about a mile-and-a-half. For a pensioner I was pretty happy with that.

“The people of Tywyn, my ex-colleagues and friends and family were very supportive. I was absolutely delighted by the amount.

“I’m over the moon. It was all done in Gareth’s memory and it is 13 years next week that we lost him.

“The people of Tywyn, as always, have been very supportive.”

Diane said the response from people to support the fundraiser had been really pleasing.

She said: “Thanks to the staff of Ysgol Uwchradd Tywyn and Ysgol Penybryn in Tywyn; staff of Spar, Dolly’s Café and all the people of Tywyn; and family and friends for their support and donations.”

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