Real stories

I swam the English Channel to fundraise for dementia

I was a club swimmer when I was growing up. I wasn’t massively competitive, but I got to a decent standard and I’ve continued ever since.

Swimming the Channel was a childhood dream of mine.

The idea to do it in memory of my fabulous nan came from friends’ encouragement and chatting with people who have done it or who want to do it.

Fundraising for Alzheimer’s Society

My nan Margaret was a second mum to me. Somebody I could always rely on.

I would cry on her shoulder, laugh with her, go to her for a good meal, everything. She was absolutely brilliant. Very strong minded, independent and very modern thinking for her time.

She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and passed away in 2017.

I knew if I did the Channel swim, it had to be for a cause close to my heart. 

So that’s why I chose Alzheimer’s Society.

Training to swim the Channel

I trained for about 18 months. I swam in a pool but also did long hours of sea training to get used to the cold water.

This included doing the Eddystone Swim, from the Eddystone Lighthouse to Plymouth Hoe, which is about 14 miles.

When the day finally arrived to take on the Channel, I was excited but there were lots of nerves too.

My nan would have been extremely happy to see me doing it, but she would have thought I was nuts. She was a casual swimmer, nothing like this.

Swimming in open water

Once I started swimming, my nerves settled.

I’d never have given up, even though it got hard.

I thought of my nan and about everyone who sponsored me – I didn’t want to let anyone down.

Every hour, I ate. You’re not allowed to touch the safety boat or anybody, so you tread water.

My friends were on the boat and kept my spirits up with lots of clapping, cheering and encouragement.

They instinctively knew when I was getting tired.

I saw cargo ships on the way, but apart from that it was just a vast space of water. That and my mates grinning at me from a boat. There were no dolphins or seals, but I did encounter loads of jellyfish halfway through. 

I couldn’t move for seeing one or touching one. How I got away with so few stings surprises me.

There was also a point where whitebait fish surrounded me like a shroud. I was almost scooping them back with my hands.

Smashing my fundraising target

The swim took 14 hours and 20 minutes. Finishing was a relief and brilliant, of course, but I was also in shock. Loads of emotions were going through my body and brain at the same time.

My original fundraising target was £1,000 but I raised £3,150, which I was so pleased about.

If you’re thinking about raising money, a good start is to think about what your passion is. It will keep you motivated.

I’d also recommend contacting the Society for support. They’ve been so helpful. I even had a message from Dame Suzi Leather, Chair of the Society’s trustees, who read about my fundraising efforts.

Get a support team around you too. Having like-minded people who know how you feel and think and how to motivate you is important.

I think there’s another physical challenge in me, but I need to recover before I give it any serious thought!