A north Norfolk community gave charity donations totalling almost £13,000 towards a woman's triathlon challenge

Alexandra 'Pixie' Flather, from Erpingham, near Aylsham, completed the Olympic distance of the London Triathlon in two hours and 55 minutes to raise money for research into blood cancers such as leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma, after her best friend was diagnosed with the disease.

Farming businesses including the Holt branch of NFU Mutual, the Aylsham Agricultural Show Association, H Banham Ltd, Ben Burgess and British Sugar, as well as North Walsham RFC and Holt RFC, all showed their support with donations and messages of encouragement which helped to smash her £10,000 target.

The 30-year-old said: 'It was physically and emotionally exhausting but so worth it. The weather was extraordinary, with hail, wind, rain, thunder and lightning, but it didn't dampen my spirits and I was delighted with my time.

'I can say that, hand on heart, being physically swum over in the London Docks whilst being used as a buoyancy aid is something I will not forget in a hurry.

'From the TriHarman Norfolk TriClub for its help and encouragement with my open water swimming, to friends who have joined me at fitness bootcamps, to Leicester Tigers' players and wider family for their donations and expert nutritional advice, the generosity that has been shown has spurred me on week in, week out.

'Every penny we have raised for Bloodwise is going to make a difference for a cause that means so much to me, and for that I cannot express my gratitude enough.'

Matt Lawley, head of sport at blood cancer research charity, Bloodwise, said: 'The support that Pixie has received has been extraordinary and we are so grateful to her for taking on the triathlon challenge.

'Whilst we have made great strides in finding better treatments for blood cancer, sadly the disease is still the third biggest cancer killer and the fifth most common cancer. That's why the support from fundraisers like Pixie is so important in ensuring we can continue to fund the research that will save the lives of even more patients.'