You might be forgiven for thinking we are nuts for wanting to swim 30,000 metres each over the whole of September, in open water no less, but we genuinely love it!!! We both 'have previous' with Bridget having swum for her county in younger years and Ulli growing up swimming in open water in Germany.  

There are many physical benefits for wild or open water swimming such as improved circulation and cardiovascular health but we have found the main benefit is an overall feeling of wellbeing which is why we chose 'Mind' as our charity.

Without the confines of lane ropes or walls, it’s liberating, adventurous and unique. It's blissfully peaceful, there is no lingering smell of chlorine and no hustling and bustling for position. We just switch off and swim along, sometimes accompanied by ducks and dragonflies dancing on the water!!! There was even a Heron watching proceedings from the side! 

There is a growing amount of evidence to suggest that cold water swimming can help to improve mental wellbeing. CornwallMind.org outline some of the benefits below.

1. It boosts dopamine levels – Immersing the body in cold water boosts dopamine levels and increases the release of endorphins.
2. Ecotherapy – Being outdoors and connecting with nature has a proven, positive impact on mental wellbeing. This also helps to combat the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder.
3. Mindfulness – The feeling of cold water, combined with being outside in nature, helps us to experience a connection between body and mind. This can help to bring us into the present moment.
4. Community – The wild swimming community is notoriously friendly. By joining a local group or beginning to swim with people you already know, we can build on new and existing friendships.
5. Exercise – Swimming is an excellent form of exercise and can help lower blood pressure, increase immunity and is considered a low-impact exercise making it more joint friendly.
6. Reducing symptoms of anxiety – Overcoming the resistance to entering cold water can help us to build mental resilience. 

We mainly swim at Hoveringham Sail Club and the RaceHub in Melton Mowbray but there are plenty of other venues - details can be found here if you're interested in giving it a go https://nowca.org/nowca-lake-directory  

We really appreciate every donation to this great cause no matter how small, and thank you for supporting us. 

We will of course keep you posted how we are getting on in September with regular updates so please keep checking back in with us.

Bridget & Ulli  

The small print: Thanks for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.