Why have I decided to take part in Swim Serpentine?

The main reason is to complete the 'London Classics' - the trilogy of the London Marathon, Ride London, and Swim Serpentine.

2019 was the London Marathon - I am not a runner just the occasional 5k Parkrun when I wasn't cycling on a Saturday morning. My mum had been diagnosed with sarcoma (a soft tissue and bone cancer) in 2018 and fundraising for Sarcoma UK by running the London Marathon seemed like a good idea. I was only ever going to run one marathon and it had to be London. I survived the marathon, and, thank you God, my mum survived cancer. I still get tearful when I think about it! I didn't get the running bug but I still do the occasional Parkrun.

2022 was the year for Ride London 100 miles. Cycling is my thing - going out on a Saturday morning for a ride with friends enjoying coffee and cake somewhere along the way gives me joy. 100 miles is a long way, much further than our Saturday rides, but doable. I did it, I enjoyed it, and I still go out riding, drinking coffee and eating cake on a Saturday morning (if it's not cycling weather then I'll do the Parkrun).

Since Ride London, I've had this nagging thought about completing the London Classics, which meant completing the Swim Serpentine two mile course. A few problems with this, the main one being than I am not a great swimmer. I can just about get from one end of a 25m pool to the other in a mishmash of styles. I have never swum in 'open water'. I don't know how to 'aqua-breath'. I get flustered if anyone swims too close to me. I can't see without my glasses. I hate getting water up my nose. The list goes on. The nagging in my head got louder, I mentioned it to a few people who made encouraging noises, so I decided that 2025 was going to be the year and I signed up.

Since January I've been to the pool two or three times a week. I now have prescription googles (wow!) and in April I started swimming lessons with the hope of refining my swimming style. I have made arrangements for some some open water coaching once the water gets warmer. I'm hoping that this will be enough to get me to the finish line. Something isn't a challenge unless there is a risk of failure (or drowning) and I am feeling apprehensive.

Why am I fundraising for A Rocha UK?

Climate change, habitat loss and species decline are having devastating effects on the natural world. ARUK's mission - to equip Christians to care for the environment for God, nature and all people - is more relevant than ever before. I have worked for ARUK since 2022 as the data manager. I see how committed my colleagues are to this mission. I haven't got the eco skills to support them (although I am pretty good with a database and a spread sheet) but if I can raise some funds whilst I attempt to complete my challenge then I will be happy :-)

Your fundraising will help A Rocha UK continue to make a real difference in protecting the environment for the benefit of wildlife and people as we care for God's earth.