Between 17 and 20 July 2023, 6 Ironfish Swimmers will be taking on an epic challenge. Melanie Barratt (Paralympic and World Champion VI swimmer!), Helen Timmins, Sarah Stocks, Jose Mills, Maria Adams and Natale Prosser.

We will be aiming to swim the whole 71km length of Lake Geneva as an all female, relay team. We will swim non stop, through the night, swapping over every hour. We estimate that the swim will take anywhere between 28-32 hours.

This will be a massive challenge for each of us personally.

The Signature, also known as 'The Ultimate Trophy Swim', traverses the length of Lake Geneva from Chillon Castle in Veytaux to Bains des Pâquis in Geneva. At approximately 71km it is twice as long as the English Channel and made up entirely of fresh water flowing directly from the alpine scenery that surrounds it. This swim is the ultimate challenge and a considered by many to be one of the toughest open water swims around.

We will be swimming "Channel rules" which means no wetsuit, neoprene or other swim aids. Just a standard swimsuit and hat, goggles and ear plugs. 

We are swimming to raise much needed funding for British Blind Sport (BBS). BBS is close to our team's heart as it was their work which found our team mate Melanie and supported her onto Paralympic and World Championship glory. If you want to hear more about Melanie's hugely inspiring story you can look here - 

Open Water Swimming with Paralympian Melanie Barratt - British Blind Sport

BBS is the UK's only national sports and physical activity charity exclusively for people with sight loss. There are more than 350,000 children and adults who are blind or partially sighted and they need our help now more than ever before. People with sight loss are twice as likely to be inactive as people without sight loss and 2/3rds say there are physical activities that they want to do but aren't able to. We need to change this. BBS uses the power of sport to help people with sight loss lead more active and independent lives.

You can read much more about the wider work of this fantastic charity here - 

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