HARPENDEN: A proud mother has praised the hard-work and dedication of her 15-year-old daughter who competed in a charity triathlon and raised over �500.

Celeste Hartley, who attends Loreto College in St Albans, was inspired to enter the triathlon after seeing her mum take part in the event last year. Although training was sometimes difficult for both Celeste and her mum, who live in rural Harpenden, they regularly went out jogging with each other and found it gave them time together that they normally wouldn’t have.

“We had a lot of giggles and it’s really been a joy because Celeste has worked hard to raise the money - she had to raise at least �500, but she’s managed �698 - and training, as we had to, is not normally in the remit of most teenagers, so I’m really proud of her.”

The St James’ Place Foundation Triathlon is run every year in aid of Hope and Homes for Children and has raised over �100k this year. Entrants compete in a 400m swim, a 17.5km bike ride and a 5.5km run. To find out more, visit www.sprinttriathlon.org/index.html and to sponsor Celeste and Jane visit www.justgiving.com/Celeste-and-Jane-Hartley