August: Chrissie Thirlwell swim | News and options

On 24 August, Chrissie will be a part of greater than 2,400 rivals from throughout the globe, swimming 6.5 kilometres from Asia to Europe, battling robust currents to cross one of many world’s busiest delivery lanes as a part of the Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swim.

It’s the most recent in a protracted monitor report of crossing continents overlaying many miles of open water that Chrissie has been swimming since 2005; together with ten years of Olympic distance triathlon coaching, a 40km swim throughout the English Channel in 2007, swimming with Orcas throughout 20km of the Gibraltar Straight in 2013, swimming from the UK to USA from the British to US Virgin Islands in 2014, and being the primary lady in her age group to finish the swim within the Alcatraz duathlon in 2014.

This newest problem brings to an finish Chrissie’s crossing continents swim collection of UK – Europe, Europe to Africa, UK – USA and Europe to Asia. It is doubly important as a result of it’s in reminiscence of Chrissie’s lifelong pal, Kirsty Widdowson, whose resilience, humour and braveness impressed Chrissie to lift cash for the Marfan Trust, a charity that helps households affected by Marfan syndrome, a genetic situation that impacts the physique’s connective tissue and which affected Kirsty’s life till she died earlier this August.

“Kirsty lived a wonderful life and wasn’t at all defined by Marfans,” says Chrissie. “I’m doing this in her memory with her family’s blessing. The fact she would have said I was crazy makes me want to do it even more!”

Chrissie is accustomed to balancing the challenges in her coaching along with her educational commitments and actually believes that the 2 usually are not solely complementary, however important to her success in each.

“It is hard to fit it all in but I know that it makes me happier,” says Chrissie, who wakes at 5am most mornings to both go path operating, out of doors swimming or to power prepare earlier than her work day begins. “Being outside is essential to me, as is channelling the power I’ve in a approach meaning I can do no matter I have to do. I’ve a extremely supportive husband and labradors – who swim and run with me – and I usually prepare with mates, which not solely makes it extra pleasing, it means I follow my coaching plan.

“In my job, I find it helpful that I feel very fit and strong. It goes hand in hand with the demands of the job. I tell my students the same thing; it’s important to get your head into a different space – you don’t have to climb a mountain or run a marathon; it can be knitting or any other activity, you simply need to do something that makes you happy.”

At the time of writing, Chrissie had raised virtually £3,000 for the Marfan Trust, which in addition to supporting sufferers and households, funds analysis into the situation.

“I’ve previously fund-raised for cancer charities and various children’s charities,” provides Chrissie. “I wanted to do this in memory of Kirsty who was the most amazing, warm, funny and generous woman who I’d known since we were born three weeks apart. She encountered significant health problems through her life, but she was incredibly strong and resilient when navigating these. I saw her shortly before she died and knowing medically what I do, I knew it might be the last time we were together, she still managed to laugh at my terrible jokes. She never held herself back.”

“I was always going to fundraise when I planned to do this swim, but I hadn’t decided which charity to do this for. When Kirsty died it became really obvious. I remember how the Marfan Trust supported Kirsty’s family when she was young, and with my medical background, knowing that they support research into Marfan syndrome, it became even clearer why this matters so much.”

Chrissie already has her sights set on her subsequent problem, concurrently getting ready to coach in Pilot Gig rowing as soon as this swim – and one other within the Arctic afterwards – is full (all of the whereas holding her different dedication as entrance lady on the electrical ukulele in her band, Otter Chaos): “I really do believe it’s absolutely essential to prioritise your health and happiness, especially as we age.”

Further data

Chrissie’s fundraising web page is on Just Giving –

Chrissie’s sporting achievements in full embrace: 10 years of Olympic triathlon, and one 1/2 Ironman in USA; finishing the London and New York marathons, coaching for the channel with a 6-hour swim round Gozo; many, many hours swimming in Dover harbour over 4 months coaching for ultimately swimming the English channel; swimming the Gibraltar straight; the UK Virgin Islands to US Virgin Islands; Lake Zurich; Alcatraz duathlon; the River Dart 10k swim; swimming round and between the Isles of Scilly; the Italian lakes; Lake Bled; the Oman Fjords and round Formentera in Ibiza.