SWIMMER Kate Watson has raised almost £3,000 for our patient care after taking the plunge with a chilly swimming challenge.
Kate, who is 51 and lives in Stannington, swam a total of 22 miles – the equivalent of crossing the English Channel – throughout October, conquering her fear of fish and some very low temperatures in water around Sheffield and also in Wales.
And all the money raised is going to St Luke’s, where Kate’s grandma was a patient at the end of her life.
“I was swimming mainly on my own but I have had support from my friends and I have always had someone to spot me.” Kate explained.
“I run my own business and I wasn’t able to work over lockdown, which hit me really hard and I needed to find something to build me back up.
“I started wild swimming last year and I took to it really well - but when I get out of the water I am quite blue and I can’t string a sentence together!”