Sheffield students prepare for ’empowering’ English Channel charity swim

Six Sheffield students are preparing to swim across the English Channel for charity later this summer.

The fourth year University of Sheffield students – who met through the university swim club – will set off in early July.

Whilst each fundraising for a charity close to their hearts, they are also hoping to inspire other people with the challenge.

Lucy Hirst, a medicine student, told The Sheffield Tab: “We want to empower other women to take on challenges and promote the fact that you’re a million times more capable than you think you are.”

The all-female group’s team name – She Swims Like A Girl – is also part of their message of “empowerment”.

She added: “We looked at it as though ‘she swims like a girl’ could be looked at as a bit of an insult, so instead we wanted to have it as an empowering thing. We’re saying yeah, a girl can swim the Channel – go us!”

Holly Satterly – who is studying politics and modern languages – said it was particularly important message given how she has seen female swimmers change going through puberty and be “discouraged” against continuing in the sport.

“I think the name shows that you can still be a female swimmer, you can still be strong, be proud of your female body, and just keep going.”

The six have been preparing with open water swims and cold water acclimatisation in Crookes Valley Park and Rivelin Valley Plunge Pool.

In July they will do the swim as a relay – rotating every hour, and resting on the boat in the meantime. It is expected they will each swim twice, some potentially three times, in order to reach the French coastline.

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They have been inspired by family members who have either done or wanted to do the swim, as well as other members of University of Sheffield Swim Club who have taken on the challenge in previous years.

Politics and international relations student Lucy Robinson said: “In our swimming club there’s been three years where people have done it as a relay team.

“In our first year, one of the president’s had done it with other people and I always thought I’d quite like to do that. Seeing that people can do it makes it seem more of an achievable thing.”

Looking ahead to the swim, they explained how they were looking forward to the feeling of accomplishment – but less so to interacting with some sea creatures, in particular jellyfish.

“I don’t like deep water, I hate the cold, it’s just tick, tick – everything about it really,” laughed Eleanor Murray, a law with Spanish student.

“But I think we’ll feel such a sense of achievement. We’ll be on the boat, cheering the person in the water on no matter how long it takes.”

Modern languages student Kate Barkley added: “When we get to touch France, I think that’s going to be such an amazing moment that we have actually swam the English Channel – it’s exciting!”

Holly also said it will be a memorable experience for the friends: “We’ve all done a year out – and I think it’s really nice to have got closer again. It’ll be a really good bonding experience.”

As part of fundraising efforts, the group have been selling branded stickers and swim hats, and will also host a quiz night in partnership with QuizSoc at the University Arms on Tuesday at 8pm.

All money raised will be divided equally among each of their selected charities.

Kate’s chosen charity is Sussex-based Charley Heritage Foundation, which works with children and young adults with complex neurodisabilities.

Having grown up as a young carer to her brother, the organisation gave “lots of support” to him and their family.

She said: “I’d really just like to raise enough money to give back to the people that helped me in my childhood. There is just this under representation for disabled people and they’re often discriminated against and pushed to the side, so I think it’s really important that they’re given everything they need because there just isn’t enough funds for it.”

Holly is fundraising for Galloway’s Society for the Blind, whose work involves “empowering people living with sight loss”. Her grandad – who had aspired to swim the channel himself – lived with sight loss and benefited from this work.

“Their work ranges from helping people that started to lose their sight to just live day-to-day and they also provide really nice experiences for people that live with sight loss as well.”

She added: “One of his dreams was to swim the channel, so it feels nice to fulfill that.”

Lucy Robinson will swim for Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), in light of a fellow swimmer at her hometown club who passed away unexpectedly – unaware of having a heart condition.

“Growing up, whenever we did events we’d always do something for CRY,” she said. “They put on heart screenings for local communities, encourage people to come in to see if they’ve got any problems.

“I did benefit from having one – I got a free heart screening and I found out it was all fine. The issue is you can have a heart problem and you don’t know.”

Lucy Hirst is raising money for suicide prevention charity Papyrus, which she also has a personal connection to.

“I lost my cousin last year to suicide,” she explained.

“It was totally unexpected, she was 19, about to go to uni, and had this whole life…

“I want to do it for her and in the hope that other people have that support if they need it and they can reach out.”

Meanwhile, Eleanor is supporting the UK’s largest youth club, Bolton Lads and Girls Club.

She said: “I think it’s really important because that’s such a key stage in a young person’s life when they’re learning how to interact with other people and what’s socially acceptable and what’s not.

“I also have experience with going to them for help, and I know people that have used them as an output for their issues and are able to work through them.”

Geography student Olive Bull has chosen the Christie Charity, which helps to support patients and families affected by cancer.

“I hope to raise as much money as possible and spread awareness of this amazing charity,” she shared.

If you wish to donate the group fundraiser, you can do so via this link.

Featured image via @sheswimslikeagirl on Instagram