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In August 2022 I am swimming a Channel relay with a team of fabulous women. We are raising money for Aspire, a charity which does amazing work supporting people following spinal injuries. Aspire provides the boat, a volunteer leader and has allocated our team name: Zebra.

Swimming has been a big part of my life for many years both as a swimmer and as a volunteer. In the summer of 2020 I was introduced to open water swimming and was hooked! I am lucky enough to be able to swim regularly at New Bath Lido in Matlock Bath. This gorgeous open air pool is fed by a geothermal spring which keeps the water at around 15 to 17°C; perfect training temperature for the Channel. My team all swim at the pool and what started as a bit of a crazy plan is now an exciting reality. We have a tide allocation next August and have started our fundraising.

The rules of Channel swimming only allow you to wear a swimsuit, hat, goggles and earplugs. As a relay we will swim for an hour at a time in strict order. We hoping for calm conditions and no jellyfish!

Aspire is a nationwide charity that provides support to people with spinal injuries to gain independence. Through my volunteering as a swimming official I have seen how important swimming is to people of all abilities. Water is a great medium for everyone to train in; it is inclusive and in water you can be truly free in a way you cannot be on land.

How am I feeling? I’m both excited and petrified in equal measures. But proud to be part of such a supportive and enthusiastic team.

Look out for updates on our training and fundraising events and thank you for your support.

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