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"I’m proud of my perseverance and dedication throughout. Each mile stone made me proud." Chloe
At first I felt like a fish out of water. With lane swimming, I wasn’t sure how I’d measure up to the other swimmers in the pool and I was unsure of which lane I belonged, that was very daunting. I started in the slow lane, took it steady until my confidence grew. When I felt capable of pushing myself to swim a bit faster, with more rhythm, I moved into the next lane.
Being overweight and having low self esteem at the beginning of the challenge made it difficult for me to feel confident getting a swim costume on again and being in a pool. But as time went on I felt healthier and my baby bump grew more prominent, I felt glowing by the end of the challenge, with only a few weeks left of pregnancy.
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"Swimming made me feel great, it also gave me a chance to think about what Isla was going through and how lucky we are with all the developments they are making towards a cure for Type 1" Kirstin
I hoped that I would manage to reach my target of 22 miles and raise some money towards finding a cure for this awful disease. Coming close to the 22 miles my donations were much higher than I had ever dreamed of so I decided to keep swimming until the final date of the challenge. I managed to gain the 44 mile medal which my daughter wanted.
Swimming more made me feel great, it also gave me a chance to think about what Isla was going through and how lucky we are with all the developments they are making towards a cure for Type 1. It is a relentless disease, not an hour passes when we can forget about it.
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"Ruby says she signed up to do swim22 to prove that type 1 diabetes will not stop her doing anything she sets her mind to." Rachael, Ruby’s mum
Ruby, 9 was determined to take on Swim22 and set out to swim 11 miles and to raise £100. This target was quickly blown out of the water and she managed to swim a whooping 26.5 miles and raise £5,271.50!
Rachael. Ruby's mum said 'Ruby being diagnosed at such a young age it is inspiring to see her turn that into such strength and dedication to help improve the lives of other people with diabetes.'
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"I felt that if I could raise any funds towards research it would mean other families would not have to lose loved ones as we did." Denise
I think I learned the positive effects of swimming alone and setting my own goals. I wasn't relying on anybody to turn up for any sessions, I was my own person and this gave me a wholesome mental capacity really.
I would say go for it and go at your own pace. It's not about how fast you go - it's about setting your goal at a pace you are happy with. A quotation I printed off and had on the wall read "No matter how slow you go, you are still lapping everybody on the couch!"
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'I got addicted to the peace and quiet', Archie
I signed up as I wanted to take on a fitness challenge. It was a fitness challenge at the start, then I focussed a lot on fundraising (Archie was our top fundraiser in 2020 and raised over £3,000!). My first swim I swum 8 lengths, next I swum 20 lengths, then 40 lengths, then a mile and it kept going up from there.
I learnt that it is mind over matter and if you don’t give up you can get it done. I’ve never been an athlete and I’ve never been good at swimming.
I enjoyed the routine – I would go swimming every day before work at 6.30 for an hour. I had put time in for me and accomplished something before work and could get on with my day. That habit has stuck with me. I got addicted to the peace and quiet, and the conscious routine.
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"With the Low Blood Sugar diet as well as the swimming, I lost 2 stone and was able to reverse my Diabetes to Pre-Diabetic", Lorraine
In December 2022 I was diagnosed with type 2 and they wanted to put me on Metformin, but I did not want to take medication if I did not need it. I decided to first try reversing it through diet and exercise. I was already swimming twice a week before work due to joint issues and when I got diagnosed and joined Diabetic UK, found out about the Swim22 and thought why not! It gave me something to focus on so I started swimming 4 times a week then increased it to 5 times a week once I started the challenge in March. I can swim 32 lengths (half a mile) in 20mins to 30mins. The more I swum my technique got and the faster I became.
With the Low Blood Sugar diet as well as the swimming, I lost 2 stone and was able to reverse my Diabetes to Pre-Diabetic. I am still swimming 5 days a week and have been able to keep the weight off.
I feel really proud that I completed the Challenge and raised over £400. I wore my Swim22 hat with pride. The benefits of swimming are fantastic. It does not matter how well or fast you can swim just do it; you will feel fabulous.
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