A mum from the district who launched a swimming challenge to raise funds for the charity which supported her following two miscarriages is nearing the end of her campaign.

Laura Warren set out to cover the equivalent length of the River Aire, just over 70 miles, in aid of Saying Goodbye.

And on Friday, she is due to swim the final mile-or-so.

The dance teacher – who is also training to be a baptist minister – has clocked-up most of her mileage at Keighley leisure pool, over a 12-month period.

Her target was to raise £500, but she has coined-in more than twice that amount.

Within hours of her challenge being spotlighted in the press back in October, Laura had received an anonymous £137 donation which took her to the original target figure.

“I would like to thank that person and everyone who has supported me in any way,” said the 31-year-old, from Steeton.

“The support I’ve received has been fantastic.

“The challenge has been hard, with the last month in particular being a slog, but the charity is such a good cause and I’m delighted with the amount raised.”

Laura, who is married to software test consultant Chris, miscarried for the first time in the summer of 2015.

She then miscarried again the following February.

Both losses were within the first nine weeks of pregnancy.

She came across Saying Goodbye – part of the Mariposa Trust – on Facebook in the summer of last year.

After that, she then attended one of the remembrance services it stages internationally for anyone who has lost a baby.

“I’d been struggling for a while but that was the start of the recovery,” said Laura.

“Having that space to publicly celebrate the babies we lost gave me some peace that I’d previously been unable to attain.

“The services – at cathedrals, minsters and abbeys – allow parents and their extended family and friends to acknowledge and remember each child they have lost in a supportive and beautiful way.

“The Mariposa Trust also provides a range of other support options, including online help, befriending and therapy.

“And it is raising money for a helpline.

“The support and care I have received from this charity has made the world of difference to me and has enabled me to move forwards.”

Laura, who has a young son Jamie, became a fundraising champion for the trust in January this year.

Donations to her Swimming on Aire challenge can be made at mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/laurawarren1.

For more details about Saying Goodbye, visit sayingoodbye.org or search on social media.