A Golders Green man completed his first-ever triathlon and raised more than £4,000 for a charity which cared for his grandmother during the last months of her life.

Daniel Caplan, 29, who lives with his wife in Granville Road, competed in the 2014 London Triathlon earlier this month to raise money for Jewish Care.

The health and social care charity runs the Otto Schiff nursing home, in Limes Avenue, Golders Green, where Daniel’s grandmother Dore Freedman lived until her death aged 83.

He said: “When dementia took its toll and she was no longer able to cope at home, my grandma moved into Jewish Care’s Otto Schiff care home.

“The staff cared for her, keeping her dignity and integrity intact until she sadly passed away. The staff in the home were fantastic with her and this is a way I can say thank you to them.”

Daniel, an accountant for hedge fund company GAM, took part in the Olympic Challenge triathlon - swimming 1500m in the Thames then cycling 40km and completing the challenge with a 10km run at the ExCeL centre in London Docklands.

He finished the triathlon in a time of two hours 55 minutes.

“It was tough, I wasn’t expecting such a fight in the water with all the other swimmers,” said Daniel. “There were people swimming over people, I didn’t expect that.

“Although I had done some training in Hampstead ponds, I didn’t realise how difficult it was to swim straight! I got through it and had a lot of support. It was a good atmosphere there, everyone was pushing everyone on.”

Daniel has so far raised £4,375, exceeding his £3,500 target.

The money raised will go to Otto Schiff care home to support people living with dementia.

Daniel Carmel-Brown, Jewish Care’s director of fundraising and marketing, said: “Daniel took on a tough challenge and Jewish Care is incredibly grateful for his contribution in raising much-needed funds to support our vital work with people living with dementia at the Otto Schiff Home.”

If you wish to support Daniel’s efforts, visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/DanielCaplan