I enjoy open water swimming because the physical experience of the cold is exhilarating and addictive, but I think a lot of it is also down to going on an adventure with like-minded people and the camaraderie. Some of the locations it takes you to are just stunning, so it’s a boost socially, physically and mentally.  I live in London so the opportunities for open water swimming are limited but I’ve done a few organised swims, which led me to seek out more recreational swimming and dipping experiences in some beautiful places. It’s become second nature to always pack my kit in the car and wherever I’m going on short breaks or holidays to look for outdoor swimming opportunities.

I read an article about a secondary school team swimming the Channel for charity and that opened my eyes to what might be possible, as I’d never heard of doing it as a relay before. I was going through a difficult period at work and couldn’t sleep and found myself researching Channel swimming when one night I came across the story of Tom Gregory who swam the Channel solo at age 11. I quickly became obsessed with the idea and started looking around and found Aspire.

Before I fully committed to the Channel, I wanted to test myself and signed up for their River Arun swim.  Everyone at Aspire has been so supportive and encouraging which helped me get through an epic relay Channel swim as part of the Panthers team in 2019. Landing in France as a team was an experience I will never forget; my whole body was tingling, it was an incredible rush. One of the team, Denise, had a welcoming party on the beach at Wissant and we got some photos, grabbed some shells to bring home and swam back to the boat in glorious afternoon sunshine. That was a far cry from our start the night before; nothing had quite prepared me for jumping into the sea in the middle of the night or jellyfish. Those night time hours were the toughest, but we enjoyed that swim so much we decided to take on Loch Lomond in 2022 and called ourselves the McPanthers.

Arch to Arc

I loved the idea of the Arch to Arc the moment I heard of it. I have had some injuries in the last couple of years and recovery doesn’t get any quicker with age, which has made me realise how lucky I have been and the opportunity this gives me to do something extraordinary now. I’m so grateful to Aspire and am looking forward to giving something back to them and the people they help, through this awesome challenge.

Most of us in the McPanthers planned to do the Arch to Arc, but one by one they dropped out. Our new team, the Narwhals, is made up of two original Panthers and four others I didn’t know previously. That’s one of the exciting aspects of doing these challenges, meeting new people and fostering that team spirit.

The biggest challenge will be the swim and the cold as we are doing this under Channel rules which means we have to wear a one-piece swim costume that is neither thermally insulating or buoyant. It’s been some time since I swam that far in cold water so I’m nervous about my ability to get back up to speed. I still occasionally think about the first 10 minutes in the Channel in the dark and shudder. It’s a real mind over matter test while your imagination conjures up images from Jaws or the Meg! But I’m looking forward to the swim because my previous swims were, at their best, absolutely magical.

I got into doing my local parkrun to help rehabilitate my knee and now I’m an official parkrun bore! I just about got around the London Marathon, but I was overtaken by someone in a giant bunny suit which gives you an idea of my pedigree. My office isn’t far from Marble Arch so I’ve been up to run there and further around Hyde Park. I get genuine tingles at what’s to come when I see it.

I found parts of swimming the Channel so magical last time: the leg when the sun came up, and screaming support for a team member at 4 am. I’ll just be delighted if we get it all done, but if you had to push me, I’m really looking forward to cycling in France. It’s something I’ve never done, and they love their cycling in France.  I think cycling is my strength as I’ve done RideLondon a few times as well as London to Brighton.  I’ve got the Surrey Hills on my doorstep and now its lighter earlier in the day I can get up at the crack of dawn and get out for a couple of hours.

My fundraising is going ok. I was apprehensive when I started as it feels awkward asking people for donations but the more you do it the easier it gets. I’ve been really moved by how generous people have been.  I held a bake sale and tombola type events, and I also judged a best dressed teddy competition. I have never felt such pressure as when I had 20 pairs of young children’s eyes pleading at me to choose them!  I’m also planning a quiz night and am going to write to local businesses and ask for prize donations for the quiz and raffle.

It’s been an absolute privilege to hear Paula Craig MBE speak three times now. As a police officer, listening to her talk about how important it was for her to be a valued part of the team and her drive to make the most of what she has not fixate on what she hasn’t never fails to chime with me and move me.  

I think the Arch to Arc will be a huge challenge because of the lengths and distances involved, and the fact we will be on the go for 2-3 days means fatigue will be a major factor to overcome. The start and end of each leg will be really exciting and I’m hoping as we get closer to completion, the belief will swell and we will get a real buzz. 

Swimming the channel is an incredible challenge. It’s a celebration of what you can achieve if you set your mind to something, if you are lucky enough to have good health. The reality for someone with a spinal injury is that their capabilities can be starkly limited. Being able to combine those two things is what made swimming the Channel to raise money for Aspire so inspiring.

Sponsor Oliver

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