Friends take on Channel challenge
SIX friends from Newcastle Emlyn have taken on the biggest challenge of their lives and signed up to swim the English Channel in aid of neonatal charity Cosmic.
The team, made up of Sophie Spiteri, Emma Kilsby, Bryan Allen, Penny Phillips, Deanne Jones and Harry Rockley, are training at home where possible at present, and will be diving into the swimming pools to clock up some miles in anticipation of next year’s event, which will see them swim the 22 miles between the English and French coasts.
They hope to raise £12,000 and are currently looking for a main sponsor for the swim between Dover and Calais.
Having just completed a winter swim challenge for Crisis, the UK’S leading homelessness charity, Sophie, who is marketing manager for Mencap, explains how the cold
water swimming has kept her going through a tough few months.
She said: “The cold swimming and having a great bunch of friends around me has really inspired me to keep going and take on an ever bigger challenge for next year.”
Emma speaks of how the challenge will give her something to aim for in
times of such uncertainty: “I love a challenge and with that comes pushing myself to see what I am capable of.
“This is different to any challenge I’ve ever done before and will test everything about me. I’m looking forward to seeing what we can achieve as a team and as individuals along the way.”
Harry is keen to test his mental and physical endurance, and Penny said: “Swimming the Channel means everything to me.
“It is something I have wanted to do for sometime and one of my biggest inspirations are my two beautiful daughters.
“By doing this, I hope it will inspire them to always
be brave, and to see that they can achieve anything they want to”.
Deanne acknowledges that swimming is not her strongest sport.
“However,” she adds, “I love challenges and pushing myself, not only for my physical health, but for my mental health too. This is going to be a big test for me and I love being part of a team. With a great team behind you, you really can achieve anything.
Bryan says he is keen to “push limits, and swimming the Channel will certainly do that. Sea swimming scares me, but being part of this team will make me overcome my fear.”
The team of six will be training and fundraising together over the next 12 months in order to maximise their fundraising efforts and to build a strong and resilient enough team to battle the 22-mile swim together.
All funds raised will go directly to Cosmic, which supports the children’s and neonatal intensive care units by helping patients and their families and by enabling the dedicated team of doctors and nurses to treat hundreds of babies and children each year in intensive care.
The London-based charity provides training for health professionals, funds a programme of ground-breaking research into life-threatening diseases, and supports families through one of the most difficult times in their lives.
All six of the friends must pledge to raise a minimum of £2,000 for the cause.
■ The team is currently looking for a main sponsor for the event, contact sophiespiteri1@gmail.com for further details.