Weekly Photo Challenge: Water’s Edge
Preparing To Swim The Serpentine
This coming Saturday 24th September I will be stepping off the edge into the waters of the Serpentine Lake in Hyde Park, London, as part of the Swim Serpentine event, raising money for my charity Crohn’s and Colitis UK (CCUK). Swimming is the only sporting activity that I can do since the worsening of my Crohn’s and the onset of fibromyalgia. I love open water swimming and joined Thorpe Open Water Swimming club this summer for my own enjoyment as well as training for the charity swim. I actually feel so much more like myself when I get my wetsuit on and jump into the lake! I can move so much more freely and really get some active exercise going that helps prevent the fibromyalgia from worsening. There’s only one more week left of the open water season and I know I will feel lost without it during the winter. I don’t swim much in pools as the chemicals in them can really aggravate the skin conditions associated with my Crohn’s!
I am so excited to be able to swim around the entire Serpentine! Hyde Park and the lake are a sanctuary for people and wildlife in the heart of London. I have visited a number of times to photograph the wildlife and landscapes but now I have a chance to see it all from a different perspective. If only I could take my camera into the water! I thought I would create a few albums to show you all some of the beautiful sights around the park and lake. I hope you enjoy them and perhaps you will be inspired to SPONSOR ME! CCUK is a small charity compared to many that will be represented on the day and we really need your help. I’m also taking part in the formation of a research project into perianal Crohn’s Disease at the moment. It’s a great feeling to be able to be part of something that could really improve the care and quality of life for many patients in the future! CCUK is involved is a huge amount of research as well as giving support to patients and their families. All research projects take many years of work and can cost an awful lot of money. They are absolutely vital in furthering our understanding of the causes of these complex illnesses and finding better medical and surgical treatments for the future. There is no cure. We would like to find one! If you can’t sponsor me yourself I would be grateful if you would share this request for help with others. Thank you all!
Hyde Park Wildlife
Scenes around Hyde Park and The Serpentine
Wow, a 1-mile swim! Definitely worthy of a sponsorship. Good luck and be sure to write an after-action report!
Thanks Robin!! Much appreciated 😀 I will absolutely do a follow up! Might have to arm Simon with the camera 😉 Wondering if all the wildlife will be in hiding for the weekend though!!
All the very best for your swim, Sarah!
Thanks Sue 🙂 Camera will be coming with me but not into the water lol!
😀😀 (Tramper….?)
Haha, taking the wheelchair but that’s staying on the land too!
All the best for that swim Sarah! This is a pretty serious distance! And what a variety of waters edge fauna and flora!
Thanks so much Chris!!! Yes it is quite a distance but it’s utterly brilliant to actually be able to do that much exercise 😀 I usually swim a kilometre or so at Thorpe Lake every week and it’s so beautiful and relaxing! An hour or so away from all life’s stresses 🙂 Really appreciate your support!
My pleasure- will be thinking of you!
😀
All the best for the swim
Thanks mum 🙂 Hopefully get some new Hyde Park photos too!
I know you’ll enjoy the swim, Sarah! Hyde Park is so beautiful! 🙂
Thanks Amy 🙂 It’s a calm oasis in a crazy city! I love it there and yes, swimming it is really going to be a treat 😀 A big challenge too but I can’t wait!!
It sure is…
Can’t wait to hear about it. 🙂
OMG it was awesome!! Hard work in a mass swim but still, what an experience 😀
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Gorgeous Photographs…
Thanks Lor 🙂 It’s such a wonderful park! I had a great time in and out of the water on Saturday 😀
Enjoy that swim Sarah .. I just loved your photos thank you so much for sharing.
Thanks Julie 🙂 It was wonderful!! Such a great atmosphere up there, weather was fine, the park was busy and the birds weren’t particularly bothered about us all being in the water 😉 They’re so very used to people there! Hopefully I can get a post up about my experience soon 😀
What an absolutely wonderful collection of images, especially the birds! And as ever, I admire your fortitude in the face of adversity. A
Thanks my friend 😀 I had a blast!! Absolutely love my swimming 🙂 It’s so great to be active again! Had physio at the hospital today and they’re really happy that I’m doing it after the hydrotherapy I had earlier this year. Will probably have another course during the winter which will make up a little bit for the lack of lake access 😉 I have a few more fun bird images from Saturday to go with a blog report on the day!