A 52-YEAR-OLD mum who tipped the scales at 20 stone last year has completed her first triathlon after losing nearly a quarter of her bodyweight.

Carol Pinder took part in the gruelling challenge through pouring rain and fierce winds after being told her health was at risk.

She finished the race of a half-mile open water swim, followed by a 20k bike-ride, and 5k run in two hours and 10 minutes.

Mrs Pinder, from Nelson, said she was delighted with her achievement and added: “I’m still on a high.

“It was an unbelievable feeling to finish.””

The independent reviewer for children’s social care was told last year that she was at risk of having a stroke and developing diabetes if she didn’t do something to lose weight.

Mrs Pinder started going to Crow Wood Gym in Burnley and began to do a little more exercise each week.

Her training now consists of going to the gym four or five times a week, running at least five kilometres three times a week, as well as swimming 40 lengths also three times a week.

Mrs Pinder said she couldn’t have got so far with her training and weight-loss without the support of her husband Brian, a painter Sponsorship for completing the triathlon has seen her raise around £1,400 for Pendleside Hospice in Burnley.

Mrs Pinder’s sister Kirsten was treated there for breast cancer and has fortunately been given the all-clear.

Sadly, her friend Sandra, who was also a patient at the hospice, died of cancer in 2009.

To help reach her target of raising £2,000 for Pendleside Hospice, Mrs Pinder is holding a charity quiz night at Belvedere and Calder Vale Sports Club on Holden Road in Burnley on Friday, August 14. Entry costs £5 per person and includes a pie supper. For more, call 01282 433706.