OAP's swim to help in malaria fight

Wednesday 25th April 2012

A pensioner who has seen the affects of malaria first hand has completed a 170-length swim to raise awareness and funds to help fight the illness.

Trevor Jaggar, 86, took just over three hours to complete the four kilometre challenge at Uxbridge Pool. He has raised £800 for Malaria No More UK plus funds for The Tanzania Development Trust.

He was inspired to undertake the challenge after attending a presentation organised by Malaria No More UK about extreme poverty and malaria, at St Lawrence Church, in Eastcote.

As a child, Trevor witnessed the effects of malaria when his father returned home from working in West Africa having contracted malaria. From 1949, Trevor worked in Tanzania for two-and-a-half years and has since returned to the country fifteen times where he has often seen malaria take its toll.

He said: "One of the worst sights in the world is seeing a small child dying from malaria. What makes it so hard is that, malaria is a preventable and treatable disease so every life lost is needless."

Trevor, a former headteacher at Vyners School, in Ickenham, won support from friends, family and former pupils for his challenge, which took place in the run up to World Malaria Day on April 25.

Faiths Act fellow Charlotte Dando delivered the talk at St Lawrence Church which led to Trevor's swimming challenge. She said: "Trevor is a real inspiration and we are delighted with his support."

To support Trevor, visit http://www.justgiving.com/Trevor-Jaggar.

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