Great North Swim

I am raising vital funds for life-changing mental health treatment for veterans.

My Story

🧠💪 From No Front Crawl to a Mile in Open Water: Why I’m Taking the Plunge for Veterans’ Mental Health 🌊🇬🇧

In June 2026, I’ll be standing on the edge of Lake Windermere, preparing to swim 1 mile in open water at the Great North Swim—a challenge I never imagined I’d take on.

There’s just one small hurdle:
I can’t front crawl. Yet.

But I’m going to learn. Because this is bigger than me.

I’m doing this for Combat Stress, the UK’s leading charity for veterans’ mental health. They’ve been helping former servicemen and women deal with trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and depression for over a century—and they rely on donations to do it.

I know from personal experience how devastating and invisible the effects of trauma can be. Veterans often carry unimaginable burdens long after their service ends. They’ve been trained to suppress pain and keep going—but healing takes more than strength. It takes support, compassion, and the right mental health care. That’s where Combat Stress comes in.

🧊 And there’s something symbolic in the challenge I’ve chosen.

Open water swimming, especially in cold water, has been increasingly recognised for its mental health benefits—reducing anxiety, boosting mood, increasing resilience, and helping regulate stress responses. It literally trains your body and mind to breathe through the shock, stay calm under pressure, and come out stronger on the other side.

In many ways, it mirrors the journey so many veterans face in recovery:
⚔️ The plunge into something unknown.
⚔️ The cold, raw reality of trauma.
⚔️ And the strength it takes to keep going—stroke by stroke.

So, I’m not just swimming for the cause. I’m embracing it.

🏊‍♀️ Learning to front crawl from scratch, braving cold open water, and pushing my body beyond its comfort zone is daunting—but it’s nothing compared to what so many veterans face daily in silence.

This is more than a swim. It’s a statement:
That every veteran’s mind matters.
That we see them. We support them. We stand with them.

If you can, please support my journey by donating to Combat Stress. Every contribution helps provide life-saving support to those who gave everything for us.