In Autumn 2021, Gill Newcombe and Mandy Cook from Nippon Gases UK, took part in the Aspire Swim Challenge. The challenge was to swim 22 miles, the equivalent of the English Channel for a national charity.
Aspire provides practical help to people who have been paralysed. Providing essential equipment, advice and housing to people with spinal cord injuries to allow them to live their lives independently.
The swim took place over a 3 month period using local pools, and open water swimming on holiday. To put the distance into context, 1 mile is equivalent to 64 lengths of a standard pool.
When Mandy was asked why she had taken up the challenge, she explained that the main driving force was her friend Alice Fairbank. A very talented footballer and fitness fanatic who was left paralysed after a road traffic accident.
She went onto say that it was a challenge to juggle work and other commitments but that the generosity of everyone, including complete strangers, restored her faith in humanity. Ancholme Leisure Centre let her swim for free so she donated the entry fee as well. Through sponsorship and donation, Gill and I have raised over £2,000.