More than £1,000 raised through Boxing Day dip at Hayling Island beach to support treatment and cure for condition

Braving the sea at Hayling Island on December 26 was Karina Vaile, from Denvilles, who has raised more than £1,000 for CMT Research Foundation, a charity close to her heart.

Karina, who lives with inherited neurological condition Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT), took on this challenge to raise awareness as well as funds to support research into treatment and a cure.

CMT causes damage to the nerves which transmit information from the brain and spinal cord, which results in symptoms including pain and muscle weakness.

Despite the high chance she would feel exhausted afterwards, Karina braved the cold waters without a wetsuit, getting in with the help of her husband Jason Wilgeroth.

Artist Karina, who managed to enter the sea twice on the day, said: ‘It was totally worth it and it’s so important to raise money for the foundation to do the vital research needed into treatments and a cure for CMT.

‘I hope to carry on raising funds and I’m looking for new ideas for 2021. Although I have a few operations coming up next year, and even with Covid-19 around I won’t let it beat me!’

Karina used her artistic talents in 2020 to donate colourful images of hares, turtles and foxes to children’s wards at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham and hopes to continue this work.

She added: ‘I’m so grateful to everybody that has supported me and donated, and if people would still like to donate it is still open on my Justgiving page.’

Visit justgiving.com/fundraising/Karina-Wilgeroth to donate.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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