A TEAM of physiotherapists took to the water to raise funds for their hospital.

Staff from the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH) in Gobowen will swim the length of Bala Lake to raise money for the hospital’s League of Friends.

Taking part in the fundraising challenge will be therapies manager Karin Daelemans, physiotherapy technical instructor Alex Whitfield-Jones and physiotherapists Noel Harding, Mike Delahay, Julie Lloyd Evans, Jemima Cope, Claire George, Natalie Jones, Grace Chillingworth, Lynn Martin, Cathy Cowdy and Jane Leah.

Alex said: “We decided to raise money for the League of Friends as they’ve continually supported and raised so much money for the hydrotherapy pool and Therapies department.

“Without the support from the League, we wouldn’t have a lot of the equipment we do now which benefits our patients greatly.

"This swim is us saying thank you for their contributions over the years.”

Bala Lake - or Llyn Tegid in Welsh - is Wales’ largest natural lake and is approximately three and a half miles long.

Claire said: “The length of Bala Lake is the equivalent to swimming 308 lengths of the hydrotherapy pool so we’re all working hard to train for this challenge.

“We’re hoping to raise around £2,000 for the league and we hope our colleagues, friends, family and current and past patients will support us in this challenge.”

Victoria Sugden, charity director for RJAH League of Friends, said: “We are so grateful to the Physiotherapy team for their determination and generosity.

“Over the years, we’ve supported the department funding a range of equipment, such as the new pool hoist and an anti-gravity treadmill which helps patients who are recovering from a leg or foot injury. We also help to fund the Disabled Swimming Club which is a lifeline for many patients”

“The money raised will continue to support facilities for patients and staff experience at RJAH.”

To sponsor the team's fundraising efforts for the League of Friends, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/the-league-of-friends-rjah2