3 years ago I started this madness and It’s THAT time of year again. 

Just before my first ever 24 hour relay, I heard about the Clevedon eels that come out at night and gently brush against your leg when you are swimming ( yes, you know who you are!!) This put fear and panic into my head and night swims still scare me! NEVER again….or so I thought . 

My memory seems to have faded and besides, there are no eels, or anything else for that matter, in Shepperton….what could possibly go wrong?? I also seem to have forgotten what it’s like putting a damp swimsuit and wetsuit on at 04:00. But what I do remember is swimming at the time of a beautiful sunset and sunrise. The Shepperton 24 hour relay 2023 will be my third one. Who knows where it will lead to. As always It seemed like such a good idea at the time. 

This year I am swimming with a Team from The Quays Lake , “You never regret a swim”. We are raising money for Level Water who teach disabled children to swim. 

Since becoming an amputee, swimming has become a huge part of my life and I train 4 times a week for 2 hours.  Once I am in the water , all those physical and psychological barriers like lack of self esteem, negative body image, and the perception of others just disappear. You are left with an amazing sense of achievement. The combination of cold water and camaraderie have such a positive impact on your mental health

The first splash. Holding your breath. The echoes of laughter. The wet hair. Lifted spirits. The joy of gliding through water. The smile that lasts all day. Swimming is like nothing else. The skills you develop, the confidence you build and the joys you feel are all universal. Yet access to swimming in the UK is not. Level Water use the power of swimming to improve lives for children with disabilities. Everyone should have the opportunity to learn to swim and fall in love with the water.

Swimming has made such a huge impact to my life as an amputee. If just one child can discover the joy of swimming, then this challenge will have been so worth while.