English Channel relay swimmer who vowed ‘never again’ is back in training to take on the challenge for a second time this summer – and she’s leading two teams who will be swimming too!
Debbie was part of a SwimTayka Channel relay team in 2024, swimming from Dover to Calais and fundraising for our drowning prevention initiatives.
Although Debbie and her six-strong team completed the swim in a remarkable 14 hours 5 minutes, taking turns to swim an hour at a time, Debbie decided once was enough.
But when her friend was looking for challenge, Debbie found herself suggesting a Channel swim and pledged to take part.
“I said I would never do it again, then my friend Sarah said she’d love to do a challenge, and I found myself saying ‘how about a Channel swim’!” said Debbie, who used to run a swim school and is now a children’s yoga teacher and tutor.
“We have now got two teams together and I am swimming with one of them. I am mentoring and supporting both teams, and part of this is doing a dip a day in January.”
Debbie and her teammates have just completed a ‘dip a day’ throughout January, getting into cold water as part of their preparation.
The dip a day took many forms, including cold showers, making ‘snow angels’ in the snow, and even being doused with a hose!
“Being in the team is all about commitment and resilience, so every day they are doing something.”
The team members are based around the country, and all will be raising funds for SwimTayka, supporting our mission to help children learn to swim and stay safe in water.
Debbie is also project managing our UK-based programme, to fund swimming lessons for children in the UK, who haven’t been able to access lessons.
Tempted to swim the Channel yourself? You can find out more about our relays here.
