AN Andover-based business analyst has raised more than £2,500 for charity after taking part in her first triathlon.

Rosie Wilson, who works for Stannah Management Services Ltd, completed the recent Andover Triathlon in just over two hours and 28 minutes to raise money for the Piggles Trust.

Rosie reached a fundraising target of £1,050 and, thanks to a pledge from Stannah to match funds raised by 150 per cent to mark the company’s 150th anniversary, a grand total of £2,625 has been reached.

Piggles Trust was set up by the Martin family from Amport in memory of their daughter Harriet Martin who passed away at the age of four in May 2016.

The charity works to raise funds for pre-school education in hospitals, after the family’s own experiences, and is currently fundraising to appoint a full-time nursery teacher within Southampton General Hospital.

Stannah’s group managing director, Jon Stannah, presented Caroline Martin, founder of Piggles Trust with a cheque for £1,575 at the stairlift manufacturer’s head office in Watt Close.

Rosie described the support, both before the race and on the day, as being “absolutely overwhelming”.

She added: “I can’t begin to express how extremely grateful I feel to everyone who has been kind enough to sponsor me so far.

“The extra funding from Stannah will make such an impact on my final fundraising total and I’m so pleased to be able to donate the grand total to Piggles Trust.”

Over 100 people took part in this year’s Andover Triathlon which was oheld in the grounds of Farleigh School which included a 440 metre swim, a 30km cycle through the Hampshire countryside and an 8.3km run through the surrounding villages on the outskirts of the town.

After taking part in the triathlon, Rosie said: “It was great to take part in the Andover Triathlon as it was a brilliant event.

“The first couple of miles of the run were certainly challenging, somehow though, I managed to complete the course and I even managed a sprint as I crossed the finish line.

“Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the triathlon, which is something I never would have said back in January when I first started training.”

For more information about the charity, visit pigglestrust.org.