MENTAL HEALTH SWIMS AMBASSADORS
Our partnership with Mental Health Swims brings a new light to outdoor swimming, and demonstrates the beauty of meeting up with friends and family in a safe environment whilst enjoying the open, cold water of some of the 150 Mental Health Swims locations around the UK.
Mental Health Swims is an award-winning, mental health peer support community group who host free, safe and inclusive swim meet ups nationwide. They believe in empowering everyone - people of all skin colours, body shapes, ages, sexualities, genders, backgrounds and abilities to enjoy the healing power of cold water and community.
So, on that note, we’d like to introduce you to some of their ambassadors…
Lowri Jones, 28, from London
I made a pact to myself that I’d take on as many swim challenges as possible this year and swimathon was top of the list.
I’d love to choose the option of doing it on my own, so that I can take the time to really enjoy it. I find lots of things going on overloads my sensory system and I can’t concentrate as much.
I was diagnosed with Lichen Sclerosis in 2021 and have to get checked every 6 months to check it hasn’t turned in to vulva cancer. It’s something very close to my heart so I’d like to raise awareness of the condition via Swimathon.
Andy, Mental Health Swims host for 12 years
I’ve been a host for Mental Health Swims for the past 12 months and have loved being a tiny cog in a very positively spinning wheel. Always passionate about the outdoors, in all its many aspects, I reignited my connection with open water swimming when a serious running injury removed a cornerstone of my own mental health strategy at a stroke.
I am passionate about helping others find strength and connection from the water in the hope that those physical and metaphorical ripples will spread ever further. 10 years ago my Dad died from late diagnosed prostate cancer and last week I have learned that my oldest friend from school has just received the same diagnosis. I am already currently fundraising for Prostate Cancer Research by running the length of Cumbria.
When I saw Swimathon, I was immediately turned on to the possibility of raising even more funds to help fight cancer, as well as the potential mental health benefits of encouraging others to think about getting in to nature, doing something positive and connecting with others doing the same.
I’m really looking forward to my Swimathon challenge this year and making a difference to thousands of lives.
Rachel Ashe, 36, from Swansea
I’ve never done a challenge before. I’m choosing the one you can do by yourself because I find the idea of doing it while others are really intimidating.
My aunty has had various types of cancer over the years and I want to do Swimathon to make sure more funds go to finding cures for cancer.
Photo credit Deakin and Blue
James Mead, 41, from Kent
I’ve done Swimathon before and had worked myself up to the 30.9 Challenge but then COVID hit so I had to fit the distance in and around sessions. My aim this time is to complete each distance individually on my own - 400 metres, 1.5km, 2.5km, 5km, Team 1.5km (on my own), Team 5k (on my own) and the Triple 5k. I swim regularly in the sea all year round off the coast of Kent.
Cancer is just one big pile of caca - too many people in my life seem to be affected one way or another and you just want to hug them and make it better. Whether that is curing the cancer that is affecting them or taking some of the pain away they are suffering when a loved one is diagnosed with it, it's not something within my power so I want to do the next best thing and help raise funds to help fight cancer and support the people it affects.
Keep an eye out on our social channels for more Mental Health Swims content or if you’d like to take part in one of their swim meet ups, check out their website here 👉 https://www.mentalhealthswims.co.uk