Category: fundraising

The end is in sight – Dover Part 3

by Sophie, posted in Adaptive Swimming, challenge, chronic illness, chronic pain, Disabled, Events, friends, fundraising, marathon swim, Mental Health, open water, Open Water Swimming, outdoor swimmer, Outdoor Swimmer Magazine, Outdoor Swimming, psychology, safety, Wheelchair User

Everyone (that was awake) was excited. We were pretty sure the 3rd swim would be our final swim and I think as a result, subconsciously, we had all decided to give it absolutely everything we had.  Dean was up and went in smiling, had an amazing swim and came out looking like the Cheshire cat and … Continue reading The end is in sight – Dover Part 3

The Channel Relay Begins

by Sophie, posted in Adaptive Swimming, challenge, chronic illness, chronic pain, Disability Swimming, Events, friends, fundraising, marathon swim, Mental Health, open water, Open Water Swimming, outdoor swimmer, Outdoor Swimming, psychology

The boats engine started, and we were off. My first thought “make it to Shakespeare Bay without being sick”. Then it was “please, please just make it to Shakespeare Bay before being sick” and then “please, please, please just make it to Shakespeare Bay before being sick” and by that time we were at Shakespeare … Continue reading The Channel Relay Begins

Dover – A waiting game

by Sophie, posted in Adaptive Swimming, challenge, chronic illness, chronic pain, Disabled, Events, friends, fundraising, marathon swim, Mental Health, open water, Open Water Swimming, outdoor swimmer, Outdoor Swimming, psychology, safety, teaching, Wheelchair User

Once we were all organised and settled we shouted goodbye to the people onshore and we were off! After 14 years of unfinished buisness with the English Channel it was time to finish it.

Windermere – Ambleside to Fell Foot

by Sophie, posted in Adaptive Swimming, challenge, chronic pain, Disability Swimming, Disabled, Events, Family, friends, fundraising, Lake Windermere, Living with a Disability, marathon swim, open water, Open Water Swimming, outdoor swimmer, Outdoor Swimmer Magazine, Outdoor Swimming, psychology, Races, safety, Windermere

  I woke up at 5.15am on Wednesday morning having only had a couple of hours sleep. Thankfully I had, had the sense to get everything ready on Tuesday night, including talking through my swim plan with my sister. I had also had my final sports psychology session with Helen from think.believe.perform. We had gone … Continue reading Windermere – Ambleside to Fell Foot

Windermere Training Week 17 – Back in the Water

by Sophie, posted in Adaptive Swimming, chronic illness, chronic pain, Disability Swimming, Disabled, Events, fundraising, Lake Windermere, Life in a wheelchair, Living with a Disability, open water, Open Water Swimming, Outdoor Swimmer Magazine, Outdoor Swimming, Races, safety, Training, Windermere

This past week has been another emotional rollercoaster, but I can finally say that I have decided to attempt my 2 Way Windermere swim despite only having surgery just over 2 weeks ago! As mentioned in my last Windermere blog, the district nurse took my stitches out on the 14th August and told me that the … Continue reading Windermere Training Week 17 – Back in the Water

Why I am Fundraising for Arctic One?

by Sophie, posted in Adaptive Swimming, chronic illness, chronic pain, Disability Swimming, Disabled, Events, fundraising, Lake Windermere, Living with a Disability, open water, Open Water Swimming, Outdoor Swimmer Magazine, Outdoor Swimming, Training, Windermere

After my cycling accident in 2011 I stopped all sports, I tried to continue with Triathlon for a while but I was just in too much pain so eventually, I gave up. I didn’t train, compete, or even think about sports for 5 years.  I first got back into swimming as a result of going … Continue reading Why I am Fundraising for Arctic One?