A retired doctor has swum 90 lengths of her local pool to raise funds for the hospice she founded 34 years ago.
Jan Swallow, who completed the swim ahead of her 90th birthday, has become the first winner of Scrivens Opticians & Hearing Care's monthly Community Hero award.
She was the first medical director at Oakhaven Hospice, in Pennington, which she founded in 1990.
Jan, who was nominated by the Lymington branch of Scrivens, was presented with a luxury hamper after winning her award.
Branch manager Frances Ludwig said: "Jan is the most inspiring person and is still so full of life and energy.
"The fact she skydived to celebrate her 85th birthday, raising almost £5,000 for the hospice she founded and £2,000 by completing her ‘90 for 90’ swimming challenge says everything you need to know about her.
“We’re delighted we can give Jan a well-earned treat and say 'thank you' for everything she has accomplished."
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Jan has lived in Lymington for more than 40 years. She was married for 45 years and nursed her husband through dementia. Her daughter and two grandchildren live in Bournemouth.
Before founding the hospice and taking on the role of medical director, Jan was a ship's surgeon, travelling all over the Mediterranean and beyond.
She said: "I was very surprised but delighted to be told about my award and look forward to tucking into my afternoon tea.
"Oakhaven Hospice has helped hundreds of families cope with end-of-life care over the years, which gives me a great sense of pride and is one of the key drivers that keeps me going.
“I will continue to be involved and fundraise for as long as I am able.”
READ MORE: Sponsored walk raises vital funds for Oakhaven Hospice
Oakhaven owes its existence to former Pennington resident Phoebe Coates, who donated the land on which it stands in memory of her husband John.
In 2000 she gave Oakhaven additional land and buildings, enabling it to build a new wing and expand its services.
Mrs Coates died aged 90 in 2006 and bequeathed her home, Pennington Chase, to the hospice.
The house was transformed to provide complementary therapy facilities, physiotherapy rooms, bereavement counselling quarters, new staff quarters, and an education centre where nurses and care staff from across the area can learn more about palliative care.
The new-look building was opened by actress Susan Hampshire in 2010.
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