From fear of the waves to swimming around Burgh Island 💙🌊

Almost three years ago, I took a step that I never imagined I would take.

I signed up for Into the Blue, a free 8 week cold water therapy course for people who have had a cancer diagnosis … wobble wobble eeek!

At first, it was daunting. I was scared of the waves, I was reluctant to put my head under the water, and the thought of getting into the cold sea in the middle of winter was quite terrifying!

I started during the winter and, as if to test us from the very beginning, we had eight weeks of pretty crazy weather! But with our amazing coach Ellie, lifeguard Loic and wonderful volunteer Jill, we were kept safe and hugely encouraged every step of the way.

We had so much fun!

Slowly, the fear disappeared. I began to embrace the waves, the cold water and the incredible feeling of being in the sea.

What started as something I was frightened of has become something I absolutely love and miss if I can’t get in every few days.

Into the Blue has given me so much more than cold water swimming. It has given me friendship, laughter, confidence, courage and a wonderful sense of belonging. After graduating at the end of 8 weeks … we are able to be part of a WhatsApp group, we call ourselves the Shoalies, and being part of this incredible group of people has become a very special part of my life.

And now it’s time for a new challenge!

I’m absolutely delighted that Into the Blue has now achieved charity status, which is fantastic news and means it can continue to support even more people with a cancer diagnosis and beyond.

So, to celebrate the official launch of the charity, I’m taking on a challenge that I certainly wouldn’t have believed possible three years ago…

I’m going to swim around Burgh Island at Bigbury with Ellie and my fellow Shoalies! 🏊‍♀️🌊

The challenge takes place v early morning on 31st August, on the charity’s launch day …just under three weeks away.

And we won’t be doing it alone. There will be lots of our wonderful Shoalies, and loved ones there on the day to cheer us on, encourage us and hopefully make plenty of noise from the shore!

I’m setting myself a fundraising target of £100 for the amazing Into the Blue.

It feels quite incredible to think that the woman who was once scared of the waves and reluctant to put her head under the water is now preparing to swim around Burgh Island!

That’s what Into the Blue can do.

It gives you the confidence to push yourself, to try things you never thought you could do, to ‘lean into things that scare you’ (fabulous quote from Ellie) and to discover that there is still so much to embrace and enjoy. And to apply all of this to other areas in your life.

If you can spare anything to support my challenge, I’d be incredibly grateful. Whether it’s £5, £10 or whatever you can afford, every donation will help this wonderful new charity continue its work and enable others with a cancer diagnosis and beyond the opportunity to find their own confidence, friendship, laughter and freedom in the sea.

Thank you for supporting me … and for supporting Into the Blue. 💙

Here’s to Ellie the Shoalies, the sea, and swimming around Burgh Island! 🌊🏊‍♀️💙

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