I love swimming and enjoy the Aspire Channel Swim because it keeps me fit and raises money for a great cause. I’ve taken it on seven times since 2017 because I think it’s a great challenge to do in the winter months and I really enjoy keeping active.

I love the buzz that swimming 22 miles gives me. I have signed up again this year to keep myself fit and raise awareness. I enjoy swimming; it’s easy on my joints and having had two shoulder surgeries, a tennis elbow surgery and an anterior discectomy, for me it’s a great all-round sport.   

       

I live in Cyprus most of the year, so August is a hot month here and it’s lovely to swim in the pool when it’s too hot to do other sports.  I live on a complex and have no excuse as the pool is just metres from my house!  I always like to swim first thing as I have more energy in the morning. I love my Apple Watch and my Walkman as they keep me entertained in the pool. I often listen to music whilst I swim and totally zone out.

I’ve already swum 22 miles and now I’m pushing myself to swim another 22 miles. If I finish that easily then I may even go to the 50 mile mark, depending how cold it gets as the pool is not heated!  

       

To those taking on the Aspire Channel Swim for the first time this year my advice would be to take it easy - start building your lengths up and as you get fitter it will become easier (my husband, who isn’t even a swimmer, swam 5 miles).

I find fundraising difficult as I know people struggle financially so I don’t like to ask. I let people offer and normally make a donation myself too. It makes me happy to think I have contributed to the charity and to think that spinal injured people’s quality of life will be improved. 

Sponsor Sharon

Aspire Channel Swimmer stories

Sign up to the Aspire Channel Swim

How we help