****UPDATE****

Due to restrictions that have been in place with the Lockdown we have only managed to swim in the river and has been been very weather dependent. This has meant we have not been able to swim as many metres as we hoped under normal circumstances. So in light of this we have decided to combine the metres we have each swam to get our overall distance.

I am very pleased to say we have swam a total of 26.9 miles!!!!!!

Thank you to all our supporters, you have kept us going in a very cold and tough winter.

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A mental health social movement by and for 11-25 year olds in Bristol and South Gloucestershire offering free and confidential services. OTR isn't just a charity providing mental health services, it's a mental health movement mobilised to support, promote and defend the mental health, rights and social position of young people!

Mum (Sallie) and daughter (Gabriella) are aiming to swim the length of the channel (21 miles) over the next five winter months in open water. Also including the Chilly 40 Swim Challenge, of which you aim to complete over 40 swims of 50m or above by March 2021. 

The chosen charity is Off The Record. This charity has been chosen due to Gabriella's first hand experience of services from OTR. 

Gabriella says "I suffered from a breakdown coming up to three years in January and OTR significantly influenced my mental health recovery. with their CBT Therapies. Without their services my quality of life would not be an ounce of what it is now. OTR is an extremely important service and I hope this will advance other young peoples recoveries. Also, cold water swimming is a huge beneficiary for my mental health. Aside from the physiological benefits, pushing past my anxiety that comes with entering cold, vast, open water gives me confidence and pushes past a barrier each time I swim. Completing this challenge will be a huge achievement. It will contribute to my continuing mental health recovery and contribute to empower other young people with funding OTR services!"

Sallie says "Doing this challenge together, mother and daughter will be very special if we can achieve it. I have arthritis in most of my joints and the cold water really helps with reducing inflammation but will be a huge challenge for but I think we can achieve it together! The important services OTR provided Gabriella was crucial in her recovery, without them I do not know how she would have continued. I truly believe they saved her life."

If you want to see photos and other content on how we are coping (oops!) go follow our instagram account: @theswimmingwomen.