CATH TAKES PLUNGE TO FULFIL CHANNEL DREAM
WHEN Cath Pendleton plunged into the chilly waters of the English Channel this week, she started swimming... and didn’t stop until she reached France nearly 17 hours later.
Cath, from Merthyr Tydfil, completed the epic challenge of swimming the Channel in a time of 16 hours and 45 minutes, with no break from the water allowed. The swim only ended when she climbed out of the water on the French shoreline.
On top of that, no wetsuits are allowed under the English Channel swimming rules and she wore only a standard swimming costume, silicone hat and goggles.
Cath had to take bites of food and sips of carbohydrate drinks thrown to her by her crew from the pilot boat. And at no time was she allowed to touch the boat, or the swim would have been declared void.
The boat was alongside her the whole way, keeping her safe by navigating the safest route to cross one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, with about 500 ships passing through every day.
Cath has always been a keen swimmer but wanted to complete the Channel for a very special reason. She said: “I have always loved swimming since I was a young girl and remember telling my late Uncle Freddy that I will swim the Channel one day. After one too many gins one evening in September 2016, I decided I was going to fulfil my childhood dream.”
That’s when she booked her slot and started training, raising money for a cause close to her heart, the armed forces charity SSAFA.
Cath joined the RAF in March 1991 and travelled around the UK. But after leaving three-and-a-half years later, Cath’s marriage broke down and she relocated.
Starting to build a new life for herself and her children, Cath needed support with making her home liveable, as it had bad damp problems which had a detrimental effect on her asthmatic daughters’ health.
Never forgetting the support she received during this time, Cath wanted to help the charity so it can assist more members of the military community when they most need it.
“For me, the RAF was an amazing time in my life,” said Cath. “I was young and got to travel. It really taught me a lot of self-discipline as I joined about three days before my 19th birthday. I was proud to be part of our armed forces.
“The charity helped me 10 years later. I felt really bad for asking for help but I couldn’t have afforded to do what I needed to do.
“They helped me when I needed them the most, so I wanted to give back. It was a really tough time and I was desperate. It wasn’t a massive thing, but at the time it was huge.”
SSAFA provides lifelong support to the armed forces, veterans and their families in times of need. Beginning their vital work in 1885, SSAFA is the oldest tri-service military charity running in the UK.
This year alone, staff and teams of volunteers have helped more than 67,000 people – from World War II veterans to those involved in more recent conflicts and their families.
To donate to Cath’s fund, visit j us t g i v i ng . c o m/ f undraisi ng/ cathwill swimtheenglishchannel september2018ssafa