Brentford Woman Jumping in Thames for Chiswick RNLI


Sara Ward seeking sponsors for her 5km open water swim

Sara in training for her epic swim

Local business owner, Sara Ward, is taking to the Thames to help raise funds for the RNLI.

Sara, who runs Hen Corner in Brentford, and aims to live the country life in the city, discovered the joys of Open Water Swimming just last September in between lockdowns, and has now signed up for swimming 5km in the annual event, Dock2Dock, at the London Royal Docks on Saturday 4 September.

She usually swims in one of the Bedfont Lakes, near Heathrow Airport, which is managed by Love Open Water.

“Whilst swimming in lakes, rivers and the sea can be wonderful and exciting, there are also many dangers that sadly take young lives every year.”

Throughout the UK, there were nearly 250 accidental deaths in water last year, and over 30 in just one week last month (July 2021)

“Swimming outdoors is a great way to cool down, but open water can have real dangers even for experienced swimmers.”

“I always swim with other experienced swimmers and often within the safety of a managed setting like that at London’s Royal Docks.”

Sara is raising money for Chiswick RNLI, her local lifeboat station, who not only save lives in the water but run water safety schools sessions to prevent unnecessary accidents.

“I’d love the money that I raise to be used to help teach water safety to our local school children. Here in Brentford we not only have the River Thames, but also the River Brent and Grand Union Canal. I can see how locks and weirs look appealing to young people on a hot day as the perfect place for a fun swim, but this can be so dangerous. We need to teach water safety alongside swimming lessons”

Sara is fundraising through Facebook .

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August 30, 2021