Taking on the English Channel
There are many reasons why open water swimmers choose to take on the challenge of swimming the English Channel. Every summer, the drowning prevention charity, SwimTayka, organises relay teams to make the journey from Dover to France. Here is the story of one swimmer, Karen, whose team – the SwimTayka Seals – are due to swim in early September.
I’ve always loved swimming. Growing up in Pembrokeshire, I was part of a swimming squad and spent as much time as possible in the sea. Being in the water has always given me a sense of freedom and calm that’s hard to find anywhere else.
I started year-round outdoor swimming two years ago after completing a fundraising swim challenge for Help for Heroes, a charity that supported me through a difficult time. Swimming became an important part of my mental wellbeing, and after finishing the challenge, I discovered a new passion for open water swimming.
When I heard about SwimTayka’s English Channel relay, I knew I wanted to be involved. Looking back, learning to swim as a child gave me confidence, independence, and a lifelong love of the water. It made me realise how fortunate I was to have that opportunity. Sadly, too many children grow up unable to swim or feeling frightened of the water, missing out not only on the enjoyment it brings but also on an essential life-saving skill.
That is why SwimTayka’s work is so important. Every child deserves the chance to learn to swim, understand water safety and feel confident around water. Those skills could one day save their life, and that’s a cause I feel incredibly proud to support by taking on this challenge.
Training has been challenging but incredibly rewarding. I’ve become more confident in cold water, learned so much from experienced Channel swimmers, and enjoyed pushing myself in new environments. Every training session reminds me why this relay is about much more than crossing the Channel – it’s about helping give more children the opportunity to experience the water safely and without fear.
What I’m looking forward to most is sharing this adventure with my teammates and taking on one of the world’s most iconic swims together. Of course, there are nerves about the unknown, but that’s all part of the adventure.
Outdoor swimming has become so much more than exercise for me. It helps me reconnect with nature, clears my mind, and has had a huge positive impact on my mental health. If our relay can help even more children gain confidence in the water and access the opportunities that swimming has given me, then every stroke will be worth it.
Thank you for supporting my English Channel relay for SwimTayka. Every donation helps the charity’s work and provides us with extra motivation as we prepare for this incredible challenge! Thank you for your support.
Inspired by Karen’s story? You can support her incredible challenge or find out how you could take on the English Channel yourself while raising funds for drowning prevention programmes.
All images by Karen
About the Author: SwimTayka
