Great North Swim!

I turn 60 in July 2022 and I thought ‘how can I celebrate this?’ I love swimming and have never done an outdoor challenge – so this seemed as good a time as ever!

I started wild swimming with other Sheffield Young Carers colleagues in the first lockdown, with swimming pools closed, it offered a chance to exercise but more importantly it was good for my mental health.

I mentioned the idea of doing the Great North Swim to our wild swimming group and they all jumped in – not literally but were up for joining me in the adventure.

If I was going to have an adventure, celebrate turning 60 and squeeze into a wetsuit, then it was the perfect opportunity to raise money for two charities close to my heart. We will be raising money for:

• Sheffield Young Carers: I know I work here but the young people supported by SYC are amazing. I admire their compassion but we need to do more to ensure that young people can aspire to be whatever they want to be – so please support SYC.

• Sheffield Palestine Women’s Scholarship Fund: set up by a group of women (including me!) in Sheffield in 2007, it provides scholarships to Palestinian women to enter higher education in the Gaza Strip and West Bank. The Fund is currently supporting 75 women but there are more out there that are missing out on an opportunity of education – so please support the Fund.

The team is

Sara Gowen

Laura Selby

Catriona Foster

Rachel Taylor and

Seonaid Foster

We will be swimming a mile in Lake Windermere and will keep you updated on our 'training'.

Thank you for your support