Hale End and Highams Park councillor had torn ligaments in both ankles before swim

Paul Braham, of Hale End and Highams Park ward, and team mates Daniel Kerridge and Fleur Soards swam 5km as part of Marie Curie's Swimathon at Clacton swimming pool.

Together the trio surpassed their £1,000 target to raise £1,152. 

Mr Braham, who is the son of former long-serving councillor Laurie Braham, lost his mother to lung cancer in December 2007. 

Beryl Braham was a well-known figure in the community having served as a magistrate for 22 years in Waltham Forest and was as mayoress in 1983. 

She helped out at various charities and was a school governor at Tom Hood School, now referred to as Buxton School in Cann Hall Road, Leytonstone.  

Beryl and Laurie Braham 

Despite injuring himself days before the event while out canvassing, Mr Braham was determined to complete the swim and raise awareness of Marie Curie Cancer Care. 

He said: "The charity is especially dear to me as I lost my mother to this dreadful disease some years ago. 

"Nearly everyone is touched by cancer somewhere along the line. 

"The swim became slightly more challenging for me as I managed to fall over while delivering literature for the election just three days before the event. 

"Having torn the ligaments on both sides of my left ankle I needed help hobbling on my new best friends, a pair of crutches, to the pool and then getting out again afterwards. 

"It is not an experience I intend to repeat in a hurry -the injury, not the swim!"

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