A team of Suffolk fundraisers taking the plunge for charity at this year’s Great East Swim have revealed how swimming changed their lives.
With just over a month to go until the county’s largest open water swimming event, four participants shared their stories about how the sport has transformed them – both mentally and physically.
Andrew Wright, from Ipswich, has taken on the Great East Swim four times after he underwent life changing heart surgery that left him feeling like a new man.
Since then he has tackled a number of distances and will take on the 5k event this year.
The 59-year-old said: “Before I started swimming, I always wanted to keep fit and healthy but my inherited heart problems meant that it was quite difficult.
“Seven years ago I found I had blockages in two of my arteries, one was 95 per cent blocked.
“I started swimming following my operation and it has helped to transform my life. I swam the best I had ever done for eight years.”
Nick Williams, also from Ipswich, decided to take up swimming after his father was diagnosed with bladder cancer.
Now three stone lighter, the 39-year-old said taking to the open water boosted his confidence and helped turn his life around.
He added: “I began running four years ago with my Dad as a way of keeping active and once I had managed to run 10k without stopping, I began to look for a different challenge.
“Since I began to turn my life around with fitness and keeping active I have lost three stone in the process.
“It may be hard but crossing the finish line at the end makes you realise that the pain was all worth it. Taking up open water swimming has really changed my life for the better.”
Louise Hammond, from Debenham, had found it tough to swim a length of front crawl.
Now 65, she has decided to throw herself into the deep end – and signed herself up to swim the one-mile distance.
She, like fellow swimmer Judith Hunt from Gislingham, will be taking to the water to raise funds for Blossom, the nominated charity for this year’s swim.
The organisation provides support for Suffolk women wanting to make positive changes to their lives.
Louise said: “Training for the Great East Swim has inspired me to be able to pass on encouragement and love of the sport to other people we work with at Blossom.
“When I signed up I struggled to swim a length in front crawl. I am proof that anyone can swim if they put their minds to it.”
Now in its ninth year, the Great East Swim will kick off on June 17 at Alton Water reservoir.
Sign up here.
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