Teacher takes on triple 5k pool challenge

Catherine, 42, entered this year’s Swimathon event – her second time undertaking the challenge, where swimmers take on a challenge of their choosing to raise funds for Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie.

While the event was postponed back in March, Catherine managed to complete her triple 5K challenge over three days once pools reopened.

She said: “I swam over three days and luckily the pool was not too busy so they let me stay in for over an hour each day.

“I wasn’t sure I had another 200 lengths in me by day three but I saw a few swimmers from Blackpool and they gave me my second wind.

“It has been great to be back in the water, and to be able to complete my challenge and make a difference.

“A massive part of who I am is that I am a primary school teacher.

“I want to show our children that even though times are more challenging, we can still be awesome selves and be fearless with anything that we take on.

“I am sure most people hold the cancer charities close to their heart as one in three people are affected by this, so I was delighted to help raise some funds.

“My dad’s wife had breast cancer and I am truly inspired by how she genuinely stared cancer straight in the eye and won the fight.

“It’s been a different challenge completing the Swimathon this year, but it is one I have loved.

“I have had an amazing swimming journey from Swimathon 2019 to Swimathon 2020.

“It’s a great way to get fit, meet some amazing people and raise some money for important causes.”

Swimathon is the world’s largest annual pool based fundraising swimming event.

It takes place annually at some 600 pools across the UK and 750,000 people have taken part since the first event in 1986.

As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, this year’s event was postponed from its original March date, but Swimathon is now back and live.

Entrants can use the new virtual MySwimathon approach when they undertake their challenge in their own time and venue.