Many of our Channel swimmers have extraordinary stories to tell, about overcoming challenges on their journey.
Not least of these is Lois, a swimming teacher from Pontefract, who will be crossing the Channel this summer as one of our intrepid relay teams.
Lois was diagnosed with cancer and in December 2024 – after a long wait for surgery – had a large tumour removed from her abdomen.
“I had been feeling awful but after the surgery I instantly felt like a new women. My fortieth birthday had been a right-off because of the cancer, I was coming up for 41, and I decided I was going to live life. I had always wanted to swim the Channel, so it was the perfect challenge.”
Lois is now a member of one of two teams being mentored by her long-standing friend, and SwimTayka’s UK programme manager, Debbie. It was Debbie who first encouraged Lois to further her career as a swimming teacher and train to become a tutor.
“Debbie had swum the Channel before, and was getting teams together, so I decided to join. She has been so encouraging. I don’t know if I can do it, but I am training hard and will give it a damn good try! I’ve dipped in my cold water pod every day since December to get used to the cold water, and that’s now like meditation for me!
“Before Debbie did her swim, I hadn’t come across SwimTayka, but I am completely invested in it now, the whole ethos is right up my street.”
As a swim teacher, Lois teaches children with special needs and was recently appointed regional head coach for the Special Olympics squad. Her daughter Abigail – who has additional needs – is a keen swimmer, and is hoping to be selected for Team GB, to take part in the next games, in Chile in 2027.
“The Special Olympics is an incredibly joyful world of competition, galas, and lots of different things going on. We have a regional games this summer, where coaches will look at the swimmers, and we hope Abigail will be selected. So this year it will be my Channel swim and next year we hope to be in Chile for the Special Olympics.”
If Lois has inspired you to take the challenge and sign up for a Channel relay team, you can find out more here.
