A Brighton and Hove nurse swam the English Channel with the aim of raising £5,000 for a hospital charity.
But already Annie Shotton has raised almost three times as much from her solo swim to France which took 12 hours and 45 minutes last week.
Mrs Shotton, 38, has worked at the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital, in Brighton, for the past 14 years and wanted to support colleagues and patients there.
The mother of three, who lives in Hangleton, was supported during her swim by husband Dan and friends as she braved one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
And there is still time to support her fundraising efforts. Click here to make a donation.
Or text BIGSWIM to 70085 to donate £5. Mrs Shotton said: “Obviously, text as many times as you want.”
Having started out in the hope of raising £5,000, Mrs Shotton is delighted to have pledges totalling more than £14,500.
She works as a deputy sister on the Day Case Unit and spoke to colleagues around the Royal Alex to find out where the money could best be spent.
She said: “I’ve always liked swimming and love the water, especially outdoors. But I have never done anything like this before.
“I like swimming, I wanted an adventure, I wanted to inspire people to live life to the full – at whatever stage they’re at – and to not give up when things get tough. And I wanted to fundraise for the hospital.
“I visited each ward and department in the run up to the swim and asked what was specifically needed for that area – ECG (electrocardiogram) machines, ENT (ear, nose and throat) trolleys, play therapy equipment, physiotherapy equipment, etc.
“A big thing for me at the moment is trying to support the increasing number of young people coming into hospital struggling with their mental health.
“I feel like I won’t really scratch the surface but I know I can make a difference, even in a small way.”
Mrs Shotton was up at 2.45am on the day of her swim, on Tuesday 3 August, and left Brighton at 3.30am, having picked up her crew.
She was in Dover by 5.30am and set off on her 12-hour swim by 6.20am, reaching the French coast just east of Cap Gris-Nez a few minutes after 7pm.
The best parts included, she said, “friends down as a surprise to wave me off, actually doing the swim in the Channel with my friends and husband on a boat next to me (as opposed to training and swimming round a harbour on my own), seeing the huge container ships sailing past, seeing France, putting my feet down and feeling sand, getting out on the beach, getting my well-earned French pebble, getting back on to the boat and hugging everyone, seeing my time, getting back to Dover and seeing my kids and parents, seeing all the messages of support, seeing how much has been donated. I had such a GREAT day!”
The worst part was “probably being stung by a jellyfish and realising I had a bit further to swim than I thought because the tide had changed”.
But, Mrs Shotton said, “I am still buzzing every time I think about it. I mean – wow – I swam to France!
“I’m so happy all the training paid off. I’m so thankful for all the support from family and friends. The amount of money is incredible. I can’t wait to see the difference it is going to make.”
Mrs Shotton added: “Maybe I will do another challenge one day. Right now, I can’t think of anything better than chilling out over the summer, enjoying time with my family and friends and being able to swim for the pure enjoyment.”
To donate, click here or text BIGSWIM to 70085 to donate £5.
