In a few weeks’ time, five teams will be setting off in the wee small hours to complete the epic challenge of swimming the English Channel in a relay. They’ll be undertaking the feat to raise funds for the swimming charity SwimTayka, which saves the lives of children in underserved communities around the world, by providing free swimming and drowning prevention lessons.
Every year, teams take to the water at Dover with help from SwimTayka, to challenge themselves but also to support this charity which is helping to turn the tide against the shocking worldwide drowning statistics – one person drowns every hour; and they are often children.
We caught up with three members of the SwimTayka teams, to see how training was going and how they were feeling about the challenge ahead, dubbed the ‘Everest’ of swims.
“I am already a distance swimmer, so feel confident I can do the distance,” said Helen Forsyth, 50, who lives in Devon with her husband and two children and is a self-employed head of growth. “Swimming in the middle of the Channel feels a bit intimidating, but I have been talking a lot with my team, and I already know that if I am feeling anxious before my swim, my team will have my back, and vice versa.” Also taking part is Henry Wilson, 34, who lives in Kent with his wife, Emily. He said: “I feel excited! Since completing our assessment/qualifying swim in Dover, as well as having had the chance to swim alongside our boat, I feel fully ready for the challenge.”
Another fellow swimmer is Sarah Donovan, 47, from Kent, who works in occupational health, and is married with two children. She said she feels both nervous and excited. “Mostly I am just so very proud about going into this amazing swim challenge. Having the opportunity to swim the Channel has given me such a sense of purpose, pride and achievement. I have enjoyed the response of my friends and family, who think I am completely bonkers, but also have huge respect for what I am trying to achieve.”
Like all the SwimTayka swimmers, the trio have put in many hours’ training, but found this to be a positive experience.
Sarah said: “When I signed up to the swim challenge in September, my swimming experience was limited to bobbing about in the local lake. However, once I signed up, I had a real goal to work towards, which has given me a real sense of purpose. I have been committed to my training, swimming two to four times a week, training with a swim coach to improve my stamina and spending increasing amounts of time
in cold lakes and the sea to increase my cold water tolerance.”
Henry echoed this, “The training is the least of my worries! If you put the time in, you will get results out!”
We asked the three if there were any particular concerns they had about the relay. Sarah said: “I am a bit nervous about how I will manage on the day, how will I cope if I have to swim in the dark? Will I get stung by the jellyfish? And how will I cope with potential sea sickness? But as well as having these anxieties I am also feeling really excited for the challenge. I feel quietly confident that our team will do well as we
have been training together, have developed a bond and we’re all committed to completing the swim and supporting each other. It is such an amazing thing to be able to be a part of and I’m looking forward to embracing the huge sense of achievement when we touch the beach in France!”
Helen added: “Strangely, I feel a bit anxious in case I am the first or the last swimmer, but I also know I really don’t need to worry about this, because I know our pilot will advise on the best course of action.”
But – worries about jellyfish aside – they were full of praise for the exceptional levels of support from SwimTayka.
Henry said: “SwimTayka’s biggest gift is the experience of having done multiple crossings in the past and having knowledgeable volunteers who have been excellent at managing our expectations and answering questions.”
Helen agreed. “There is an entire book, which has loads of detail we can refer to. There is lots of group communication. We have a real cheerleader in SwimTayka’s Scottie, who is so good in answering our questions and allaying any worries. There are organised training weekends, where we can meet the teams, and meet the experts and ask all of the questions and they even give feedback on your swimming
style. There are no questions too silly to ask; our questions have ranged from ‘are there sharks?’ to ‘what can we wear’. We have even had detailed conversations about anti-chafing sticks!”
SwimTayka also provides all the logistics for the swim, as Henry said, “I am so grateful that they have experienced pilots and crews – I wouldn’t have known where to start.”
Helen added, “They provide literally everything. All I have to think about is swimming and fundraising.”
All the team members have committed to fundraising for SwimTayka, because the charity has touched their hearts.
Sarah summed it up: “I think every child should be able to swim, not only is it an amazing activity to be able to do, it is also a life-saving skill that can save lives.” And a final word from Henry, who is fulfilling a lifelong ambition. “I was recommended to reach out to SwimTayka by a friend who had completed a Channel relay swim. Not only was the knowledge and experience at SwimTayka evident, but the work the
charity does really struck a chord with me and I knew I had found the group I would be completing this challenge with. The rest will (hopefully) be history.”
