Students’ swim for charity inspired by TV show
STUDENTS FROM Sheffield Hallam University swam the equivalent of the English Channel to raise awareness of mental health issues.
The group of 60 students and staff, who are all studying sport coaching in the Academy of Sport and Physical Activity, were inspired to take on the challenge by the recent Channel 4 series, Sink or Swim.
The programme saw celebrities such as The Last Leg’s cohost Alex Brooker and Coronation Street star Sair Khan join with athletes including Linford Christie and Tessa Sanderson to push themselves to the limits of their ability.
The Yorkshire group was made up of swimmers of differing abilities who between them managed to swim more than 44 miles, roughly the length of swimming the English Channel and back.
The university swim, held at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, was in aid of Student Minds, a charity that works with students, professionals and academics to develop new and innovative ways to improve the mental health of students.
Janet Vickers, a senior lecturer in sport coaching and physical education, said: “We teach our students to recognise the important part that regular physical activity plays in improving mental health and resilience to other diseases so to see them take on this daunting challenge is an inspiration to us all.
“The effort our students and staff put in was tremendous. The whole of the group aimed high, supported each other and achieved their goal. They are a credit to the university.”
Depending on their ability, the number of metres swam by individuals ranged from 100 metres to 5km.
Kate Mitchell, the fundraising officer at Student Minds, said: “We are incredibly grateful the students and staff chose to support our work with this impressive and inclusive challenge. The money they have raised will enable us to empower more students and members of the university community to look after their own mental health, support those around them and create change.”