Maria swims at Waterwings Swim School, Westholme School, Blackburn. Her swim teacher Kath Burton organizes a sponsored swim every year in memory of her friend and brother-in-law David Burton. He had congenital heart and lung problems and died at the age of 44.
The swim is to raise money to buy a defibrillator and one of the participants has their name taken out of a hat and their school is given the machine. This year it was Maria.
The defibrillator will be kept in school in case of emergencies involving children, staff, chapel users or visitors.