Sharon Tanner (57) and family will take the plunge at Sue Ryder’s first-ever Lap the Lake event this May as they pledge to raise vital funds in memory of their beloved mum and grandmother.
The five, which include Sharon, her two daughters, Neve (22) and Morgan (25), and Neve’s partner Chloe (20) and Morgan’s partner Ollie (26), will join other swimmers for a day of fun and fitness on Saturday, 10 May, at the exciting new open-water event.
They will be raising vital funds for Sue Ryder, which runs Sue Ryder Duchess of Kent Hospice in Reading, where Sharon’s mum was cared for during the final weeks of her life.
“The care mum received was nothing short of amazing. The hospice staff are incredible humans, from the receptionists to the Sue Ryder Nurses and doctors. From the moment we were in touch with Sue Ryder, they were on hand to support us all,” shared Sharon.
“Mum had always expressed that when the time came, she wanted to be at the hospice. She was relieved we could make that happen and happy to be at Sue Ryder Duchess of Kent Hospice because she felt safe and well cared for,” she continued.
Sharon, a recruitment consultant for Focus Resourcing, which has long supported Sue Ryder, is no stranger to the cold waters, having taken up open water swimming a few years ago. For Morgan, Neve, Chloe, and Ollie, lapping the lake will be a fairly new experience.
“I had wanted to raise money for Sue Ryder and found out about Lap the Lake through work. I thought – this event is made for me!”
“Open water swimming is addictive and wonderful, and the nice thing about swimming in a lake is that it’s safe and set in beautiful surroundings. It just makes you feel alive! I would say to anyone thinking about signing up to just give it a go! Once you start, you won’t want to stop. You will love it!” Sharon adds.
Sharon hopes that by taking part in the event with her family, she can make her mum proud: “Mum always thought I was mad for cold-water swimming, but she would want us to do something for Sue Ryder just for how incredible they are.”
Lap the Lake will take place at Hi5Ski School, Reading, RG30 3UN, offering a picturesque setting for participants to swim either 500m, 750m, or 1km in the beautiful Reading Lake.
For teams of five or more, there will be a 15% discount off the registration fee. In addition, the top fundraiser will receive a special item from Dryrobe as a thank you for their efforts. The event is open to those aged 18 and above and is perfect for both new and seasoned open-water swimmers.
For more information and to register for Lap the Lake, please visit: www.sueryder.org/get-involved/fundraise-for-us/events/sue-ryder-lap-the-lake/.
