Every year 360,000 people die from drowning globally. And so in September, a team of five of us are going to swim the English Channel where we’ll rotate every hour until the 30 kilometres are complete. We’re doing this for the charity Swim Tayka whose mission is to provide free swimming lessons and drowning prevention education to underprivileged children who live along the earth’s open water.

As a child I was extremely lucky to be provided with years and years of swimming lessons. This lead me to swimming competitively for ten years, to getting a job as a lifeguard during high school, and becoming a swimming teacher for people of all ages and abilities. I know how privileged I am for having had these opportunities, and want to teach and empower today’s children to do the same for the next generation.

I now regularly compete in open water swimming races, and even given all of my experience, I still feel terrified and nervous of wild conditions. Open water will always be dangerous no matter how good you are at swimming, which is why Swim Tayka’s mission to teach drowning prevention as well as swimming is particularly important.

If this mission aligns with your values, a donation of any size would be greatly appreciated. However times are tough, and so if you don’t want to make a donation but would still like to get involved I’m always looking for training buddies to put the miles in with, and for tips and tricks for keeping warm in cold water. As for this challenge…. no wetsuits are allowed!!

Thanks so much reading!