Two South Oxfordshire swimmers have completed a gruelling 24km river swim in Finland, raising nearly £1,200 for Sue Ryder in memory of their loved ones.
David Wallace (55) and Giles Lovegrove (50), both from Henley-on-Thames, took on the icy challenge in the wilds of northern Finland to thank the charity for the palliative care their families received.
David said his late mother was cared for by Sue Ryder staff after being diagnosed with Mesothelioma in 2019.
“I think she was very fearful of death, but the care she received from Sue Ryder staff, not only physically but mentally too, made her feel more at peace,” he explained. “I will never forget listening as one of the Sue Ryder Nurses gently guided her through her final moments. That for me was amazing.”
He added: “From that moment forward, I have been a passionate supporter of Sue Ryder. I think it’s crucial that people at the end of their life have support, and that we should all aspire to have a ‘good death’.”
David’s connection to the charity deepened when his mother-in-law also received support from Sue Ryder Nurses. Giles too has seen the impact of Sue Ryder’s care first-hand, when his own mother-in-law was supported at home by the Sue Ryder Palliative Care Hub South Oxfordshire.
Six Hours in Freezing Water
Although both men are experienced swimmers, neither had attempted a challenge of this scale before.
“I saw on social media someone post about this 24km challenge down a river in Finland, and from that moment I couldn’t think of anything else,” David said. “After I signed up, I had this moment of panic – 24km, it’s halfway from Henley to London. But I trained hard throughout the winter, and it gave me something to focus on.”
Conditions proved better than expected. “Two weeks before, friends in Finland told me it was the coldest summer on record – not exactly what I wanted to hear,” David laughed. “But when we arrived just south of the Arctic Circle, the skies were clear and the water had warmed from 14 to 18 degrees. It turned out to be a truly magical experience.”
The pair completed the challenge in six hours and 17 minutes.
Swimming in Memory
David said the event was also a personal tribute.
“I think Mum would have loved the challenge. She liked to dive when she was younger and was generally a really outdoorsy person. It was the perfect event to choose in her memory. I felt such a sense of achievement too, and I still can’t believe I completed it.”
How to Support
David and Giles’ fundraising page is still open at justgiving.com/page/david-wallace-downhill
Anyone inspired to take on their own challenge for Sue Ryder can contact the fundraising team at thamesvalley.fundraising@sueryder.org or call 0118 9550 433.
