Swimming Lake Annecy for Mahdlo Youth Zone and Dr Kershaw's Hospice

On 26th June, I’ll be taking on my biggest challenge yet: a solo swim the full length of Lake Annecy in France, around 14km, roughly equivalent to running 55k.  I will be supported only by a safety boat. This will be a huge leap from my previous longest swim of 4.5km in Bala Lake back in 2019, especially as I’d only been doing occasional leisure swimming for years afterwards.

After turning 50 last year, I realised I needed a meaningful challenge to reignite my fitness and motivation, and after visiting the Annecy region, this swim was firmly planted on my bucket list. Training began last August from very humble beginnings, initially alternating one length of front crawl with nine of breaststroke just to build stamina and technique. Fast forward to now, and I’m swimming up to four hours of continuous front crawl in a 25m pool in Oldham, adding 20 minutes each week, with the aim of completing the swim in around seven hours on the day.

I’m raising funds for two incredible Oldham charities close to my heart: Mahdlo, which provides vital support and opportunities for young people in one of the country’s most deprived boroughs, and Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, who have supported my family, particularly my parents, over recent years. This challenge is my way of giving back and hopefully making a real difference.