Just keep swimming: Third year crosses the channel for charity

Emma Lister, a third year French and Physiology student, raised over £7,500 in sponsorship of a 26 mile cross-Channel swim for ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease in August. As the AUSA’s Vice-president and the women’s lacrosse team captain she’s the closest thing to superwoman Aberdeen has to offer.

A little souvenir, grass from the dunes at Sangatte beach near Calais

Emma finished in a speedy 17 hours and 39 minutes, hitting the sands of Calais in the early hours of Saturday 29th of August.

Enthusiastic as she was, Emma never expected the overwhelming support she received.

She said “I’m so grateful for the messages of support and congratulations I’ve had, not to mention the donations. The support people have shown is just unbelievable and very humbling.”

She decided to battle The Channel for the charity Crohn’s and Colitis UK. Emma’s determination to complete the challenge was fuelled by her younger sister’s battle with ulcerative colitis. Her sister was amongst the support team which sailed alongside her.

After getting her breath back, Emma described her experience as “the toughest challenge I’ve ever set myself, and I was ecstatic to have succeeded.

“The high waves and strong winds hampered progress and there were times when I thought I was never going to make it, but my support team gave me the encouragement I needed to make it to France.

“I’m so grateful for the messages of support and congratulations I’ve had, not to mention the donations. My online donations are now over £7000 pounds and I have raised a further £400 through personal donations.  The support people have shown is just unbelievable and very humbling.”

Watch below for a video of Emma doing her best David Walliams: