Gill answers challenge to swim Lake Windermere (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Skipton woman Gill Purnell and cousin Ruth Skinner join charity event

9:22am Friday 4th March 2011 in Cononley By Clive White

A woman whose only exercise used to be knitting has pledged to swim across Lake Windermere.

Gill Purnell, who prefers quilting and cross stitching, has taken on the mile-long challenge after being goaded by her cousin, Ruth Skinner.

Gill, 46, an administrator at Cononley Primary School, will take part in the British Gas Great North Swim, with Ruth, 36, of Skipton.

“Ruth, who is a sporty type, asked me if I’d do it with her. When I said ‘no thanks’ she said I couldn’t do it anyway. And on top of that my husband Richard thinks my idea of exercise is knitting quickly.

“So I couldn’t let that pass and have decided to have a go,” said Gill, 46, who lives at Cawder Ghyll in Skipton.

“I’ve never swum in deep water before so I’m getting more and more nervous!

“But I have these goals to keep me going. I’m glad I signed up or I could see myself giving up.”

And she has other incentives as well – to lose some weight and raise cash for three worthy causes.

Owners of the Rendezvous Hotel at Snaygill are allowing her to use their pool free, so she will be raising money for its Pound for Pound weight loss challenge to raise cash for Manorlands hospice at Oxenhope.

Some cash will also go to the hotel’s Ribble Valley and White Rose Ladies charity which raises cash to support children with cancer. And she intends give a portion to her school, which is recovering from flood damage.

There are still places on the Pound for Pound challenge, where people have use of the hotel’s leisure club during off-peak times.

Anyone interested in joining should contact Georgina Ford on (01756) 700100.