Kirsty and Nathan's Marathon Swim
Sunday 1st September 2024
UK
Kirsty Garrett
4060
Kirsty and Nathan's Marathon Swim
Help Kirsty and Nathan to raise funds in memory of Kirsty's Mum!
On 1st September, I am going to attempt my first marathon swim, in memory of my Mother, Christine Williams, who passed away from Lewy Body Dementia on 19th April this year. My Mum absolutely loved the water, and I inherited this from her. When I first went to the pool after she passed away, I learned a valuable life lesson - that tears and swimming goggles are not a good combination! Hopefully I will remember this lesson whilst attempting to swim a marathon.
Nathan (chef-proprietor of the excellent Whistler's restaurant in Chipping Norton), who achieved his first marathon swim last year, has kindly agreed to support me in this attempt. But this year, he will go even further - by agreeing to swim alongside me for as long as it takes me to complete my marathon. I have already apologised in advance if I do the swimming equivalent of limping over the finish line with bleeding feet after 6 hours!
As a keen swimmer, I often swim 80-100 lengths of the pool (2-2.5km), but have never attempted anything like this before! For a marathon swim, I need to swim 10km (400 lengths). I estimate that this will take me over 4 hours. Based on his time from last year, this means that Nathan is likely to have to swim 440-450 lengths to keep me company (maybe more).
We have agreed to split the proceeds of our fundraising between two charities, and we hope very much that you will support us in this.
Chipping Norton Lido
Chipping Norton Lido are supporting our attempt with a venue, and lots of encouragement. This charity is close to both of our hearts, and in addition, I have recently become a trustee of the Lido. The Lido does not receive any public funding, and is at the start of a £250,000 fundraising campaign to secure the future of the pool for generations to come. This money is essential to take energy-saving measures, and undertake other improvements, to ensure that the pool is viable for the future.
The Lewy Body Society
Lewy Body Dementia is a cruel illness, which is often misdiagnosed as Parkinson's disease (and indeed often is present alongside Parkinson's). It is estimated that 10-15% of people who die with dementia actually have Lewy Body disease, and yet very little is known about this form of dementia. With a Lewy Body diagnosis, life expectancy is typically 5-8 years. Consequently, if this is misdiagnosed in its early stages, families are cruelly robbed of time they thought they would be able to spend with their loved one, as they see their illness progress far more rapidly than expected. The Lewy Body Society is aiming to fund research into this illness, and also to raise awareness.
Please give generously to help us to raise money for these wonderful charities.
At the finish line...
And here we are at the end (Nathan needs an upgrade to his badge.... The badges were beautifully hand made for us by the amazing team at Fibreworks in Chipping Norton!)... If you would like to see us completing the last, turtuous length, you can view it in Whilsters restaurant's feed on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathan.phelps.188/posts/pfbid0BPvwTWhDNBAFb3LUS4ELuU8ZxFKDkZonZMsTt68prG9J3rYCEzS9MpNLHnUPCPjil
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We Did It!!!
As often happens in life, even the best-laid plans can go awry... And so it was, when I woke up yesterday with a very tight chest and the beginnings of a cough. Suffice to say, that after about 130 lengths (roughly 1/3 distance), I was behind time, and questioning whether I would make the full distance, as I was seriously struggling to breathe. With the enormous support of my swimming partner, Nathan, staff and friends at the lido (and some cough medication), I took it one length at a time, and eventually made it to the end. It was not pretty, but I did it - in a time of 5 hours and 15 minutes. I needed every ounce of the endurance I had built up through training for this. The good (?) news for Nathan is that the extra ~1 hour of swimming vs our original expectations meant that he was able to achieve a personal-best distance of 15km. I am so in awe of him! Here is a photo of us at the start of the day...
0 likesA Huge Thank you to Crown Agents Bank
Crown Agents Bank have very kindly committed to a £1,000 donation in matched funding for our event, which is captured in the fundraising total. Thank you all!
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Updated Photos
I hope you like our new main photo, which was taken last week by a photographer for the Witney Gazette, as part of our publicity surrounding our swim. Here's our old one, taken at the start of our training journey!
0 likesNathan's additional challenge
As if supporting Kirsty in her marathon debut is not enough, Nathan has decided to sign up for an additional challenge - swimming the Henley-to-Marlow marathon on 11th August! Please support him in this additional endeavour! https://henleyswim.com/events/thamesmarathon/
0 likesTickets now available to support us on the day...
If you would like to support us on the day, tickets are now available from the Lido: https://chippingnortonlido.savoysystems.co.uk/ChippingNortonLido.dll/TSelectItems.waSelectItemsPrompt.TcsWebMenuItem_151776.TcsWebTab_151777
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Another training snap!
Training Update
£8,621.00
+£1,201.39 Gift Aid
raised of £20,000 target
by 125 supporters
Supporters 125
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W1 day, 5 hours
Whistlers Restaurant
Congratulations Nathan & Kirsty. The post event party raised £256 through sales of pizzas and drinks.
£ 256.00 (+£64.00)
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C6 days, 11 hours
Claire Williamson
Well done, both of you. What an achievement and for two excellent causes. 👏
£ 20.00 (+£5.00)
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L6 days, 12 hours
Liz
Superhuman effort! congratulations and thanks to both of you X
£ 50.00 (+£12.50)
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1 week
Anonymous
Good luck for tomorrow Nathan and Kirsty xxx
£ 500.00 (+£125.00)
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M1 week, 1 day
Mauricio Munguia
Dear Kirsty, great effort and beautiful initiative, I wish you all success tomorrow!!
£ 20.00 (+£5.00)
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A1 week, 3 days
Annemarie Ganatra
What a fantastic thing to do in honour of your mum and for 2 wonderful causes! Hope it goes swimmingly on the day!
£ 50.00 (+£12.50)
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1 week, 3 days
Anonymous
Good luck Kirsty
£ 20.00 (+£5.00)
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1 week, 5 days
Anonymous
£ 50.00 (+£12.50)
-
A1 week, 5 days
Andrew
Good luck Kirsty,
I look forward to joining you on the day and helping with the count! Best wishes, Andrew£ 100.00 (+£25.00)
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1 week, 6 days
Anonymous
Amazing effort- from the Sunday morning yellow cap swimmer!
£ 20.00 (+£5.00)
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s2 weeks
shawn newman
Good luck you two, we're sure you'll smash it!
Unfortunately I can't be there to support you as doing an event at the same time, but will be cheering you on from a distance
£ 20.00 (+£5.00)
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P2 weeks, 1 day
Phillip Williams
Go on and make Christine proud....
YOU CAN DO IT.£ 600.00 (+£150.00)
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D2 weeks, 2 days
David & Jo
I know mummy would be very proud of you taking on this big swim challenge in her memory and the awareness you are creating.
You've got this.
D x£ 50.00
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M2 weeks, 2 days
Matt, Ems & Evie x
Go well Kirsty will be cheering you on from Kent! X
£ 50.00 (+£12.50)
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2 weeks, 4 days
Anonymous
£ 10.00
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D3 weeks, 1 day
David
Thanks for the opportunity to support great charities. Wishing you the best of luck !!
£ 100.00 (+£25.00)
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F3 weeks, 5 days
Fiona
What a great thing to do. Thinking of you both in the lovely Chippy Lido
£ 10.00
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J1 month
Jennifer Johnstone
Thank you for raising awareness Kirsty, I wish you all the very best with this challenge.
£ 10.00 (+£2.50)
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N1 month
Nicholas Thompson
Very sorry to hear about your mother, Kirsty. I admire you for taking on this challenge. Good luck.
£ 25.00
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J1 month
Josh, Emily, Austin, Delilah & Louie
Good luck Kirsty! We’ll be there cheering you on!
£ 75.00 (+£18.75)
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A1 month, 1 week
Auntie Sylvia
A huge challenge for such a worthwhile cause. Having shared this journey, watching your mum (my sister) go from a strong, vibrant lady to the shadow of herself in such a short time, I know the pain it causes to all their loved ones. Good luck with the swim!
£ 50.00 (+£12.50)
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1 month, 1 week
Anonymous
£ 20.00
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L1 month, 1 week
Lucy forde
Amazing challenge and it will be an amazing achievement - Lucy and Sue (mum) x
£ 40.00
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D1 month, 1 week
Desiree Pires
Sorry to hear about your mum Kirsty but all the best with the swim, tremendous effort and great causes.
£ 50.00
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J1 month, 2 weeks
Julie Martin
Good luck with the marathon swim and raising money for the Lewy Body Society.
£ 50.00 (+£12.50)
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C1 month, 2 weeks
Chris Bell
We are totally in awe of this attampt and will be rooting for you on the day Kirsty. All the best. Julie and Chris. xxx
£ 100.00
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L1 month, 2 weeks
Lynn Sinclair
What a phenomenal challenge Kirsty and Nathan - good luck and go for it!!
£ 50.00
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1 month, 3 weeks
Anonymous
£ 50.00 (+£12.50)
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L1 month, 3 weeks
Luke
Best of luck with this, the only marathon that i could contemplate finishing is a chocolate bar!
£ 50.00 (+£12.50)
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J1 month, 4 weeks
Jo Graves
Way to go Kirsty!! What a great gal you are!.. and a wonderful way of celebrating your Mum's life.
£ 100.00 (+£25.00)
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R2 months
Roger Allen
You're amazing Goddess Garrett, if not slightly mad!
Glad you'll have Nathan to motivate you on the big day.£ 100.00 (+£25.00)
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N2 months
Naomi
Kirsty, I am so sorry to hear about your mum, I know how close you were to her. She would be so proud of what you are doing as her legacy, best of luck - you will be amazing!
£ 30.00
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B2 months
Bob & Hannah
Well done!! Very impressed that you even think of doing stuff this difficult
£ 50.00
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2 months
Anonymous
£ 300.00
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m2 months
melanie hampton
Well done you and what a wonderful way to celebrate your mother's life.
£ 100.00
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U2 months
Uncle Richard and Sonja
Our best wishes for this challenge for such a great cause, Kirsty
£ 50.00 (+£12.50)
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S2 months
Steven Hore
Best of luck, Kirsty. Amazing challenge. So sorry for your loss.
£ 30.00 (+£7.50)
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C2 months, 1 week
Chris Allen
Good luck Kirsty a huge effort for two great charities
£ 40.00 (+£10.00)
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F2 months, 1 week
Francine and Tim
Both such great causes - well done for taking this huge challenge on! xx
£ 30.00
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2 months, 1 week
Anonymous
$ 250.00
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B2 months, 1 week
Beatrice Chivers
Good luck, great causes, and sorry for your loss, Kirsty
£ 20.00 (+£5.00)
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A2 months, 1 week
Anne Louise
Good luck Kirsty and Nathan — two excellent causes in honour of your wonderful mother!
£ 100.00 (+£25.00)
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S2 months, 1 week
Sue & Ed
Good luck Kirsty (and of course Nathan).
What a brilliant way to raise funds for such worthy causes.£ 100.00 (+£25.00)
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