A Cumbria County Council foster carer and social worker yesterday (Thursday July 5th) completed a Cross Channel Swim as part of a relay team, raising funds for the Great North Air Ambulance.
Alex Nancollis, 46, of Egremont, has been a foster carer for 18 years and took on the challenge to inspire the children and young people she cares for. She said: “It was an amazing experience, which we all pulled together to complete. Hopefully for the children we look after and our own children it has given them something they feel they can strive for and achieve.”
Emily Christmas, a social worker in the Fostering & Adoption Recruitment & Assessment Team, added: “We are now back on dry land and so excited to have completed the challenge! It was a real team event with every swimmer giving it their all in some very difficult waters. We had tide changes, jelly fish, boats, a very early start and tiredness and sea sickness to add to the challenge.”
Despite all of this, the team completed the 21-mile swim in just over 16 hours and have raised more than £4,800 so far for charity.
Emily finished: “We want to thank everyone who donated to our charity and followed us through social media and tracking. We are overwhelmed by the amount of people who were following our journey.”
To sponsor the team go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/cumbrianchannelcrossers
To find out more about fostering please visit cumbria.gov.uk/fostering
Alex in the water
Alex after the swim
Emily (second left) and Alex (far right) with other members of their team after completing the challenge.jpg
Emily with Calais in her sights
Whole team at end
The Route Map