Plans to celebrate a big birthday with a huge challenge are going swimmingly for one of our Trust service managers.
Christine Murphy and her husband James are taking on the Chillswim Triple Crown this year, which involves swimming across three lakes in the Lake District in aid of charity.
The couple have so far ticked both Coniston Water and Ullswater off their list, but the toughest obstacle is yet to come – swimming Windermere in September, just two weeks after Christine turns 60.
“We wanted a proper challenge to mark my birthday, and this fitted the bill,” said Christine, who manages community mental health services for older people across County Durham.
“Each lake swim gets progressively harder, and Windermere is 11 miles long. If we manage to finish the swim, it will mean spending eight hours in the water. Luckily, I love swimming!”
Health problems sparked swimming passion
Annfield Plain-born Christine competed with Consett swimming club as a youngster and then returned to the sport in her 30s when her children joined the club.
But her passion for open water swimming only developed years later – after undergoing two back operations for severe sciatica.
“I needed a challenge to aim for after surgery, to work on my fitness, and James suggested open water swimming. It proved a perfect choice,” she said.
Christine and James took part in their first open water event, Swim Serpentine in London’s Hyde Park, in 2017.
The challenge was held just behind Imperial College, where they both studied, and not only brought back memories – but sparked a new enthusiasm for swimming.
“There is unpredictability about swimming outside. You can have currents and chop and obviously wind – but the view is usually better. It can be amazing,” said Christine.
“There is something magical about swimming on a day when the sun breaks through the clouds and you get shafts of light reflecting on the water. There is nothing like it.”
Taking the plunge for charity
Training for the Triple Crown has involved lengthy pool sessions and endurance swims – doing laps of open water lakes including Ellerton Water, Weardale Adventure’s Stanhope Quarry and Sleekburn.
The couple are hoping to raise hundreds of pounds in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society and the British Heart Foundation with the challenge – as both charities mean a lot to them.
“I’ve worked closely with the Alzheimer’s Society for years and see every day the difference they make to people living with dementia and their families,” said Christine.
“The British Heart Foundation also has a personal significance for our family, with relatives of James affected by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a genetic heart condition.
“They are charities which are close to our hearts.”
Getting in the swim for future challenge
Christine and James have set themselves a target of swimming at least 226 miles this year – and the Triple Crown swims will add 23 miles to their total.
Once Windermere is completed in September, the couple are planning a trip to Montenegro in October, to take part in the UltraSwim 33.3 challenge – covering 33.3km over four days.
“These are personal challenges, but they’re also significant ones and we’re proud to be raising money for two charities that mean so much to us,” said Christine.
“Right now, all our attention is on Windermere. It’s a very long way to swim, but we’re hoping all the training will pay off.
“After that, well we do love a challenge, so we are toying with taking up swimrun. You have to swim in the shoes you run with, and run in the wetsuit you swim in.
“You have to enter as pairs and stay quite close together – it could be the end of 39 years of marriage, or just a lot of fun!”
- Check out Christine’s Chillswim fundraising page for details on how to sponsor the couple during their swimming challenge.
