Leigh solicitor in loch drama
9:10am Thursday 29th September 2011 in North West
LOCAL solicitors took part in Scotland’s biggest outdoor swimming event in a bid to raise £5,000 for four deserving charities.
Rachel Adamson, of Stephensons Solicitors LLP and Antonia Love from Farleys Solicitors LLP, along with their friends Pauline Mills (and Rachel Mallett, took part in the 2km swim at Strathclyde Country Park in North Lanarkshire to raise vital money for Rosemere Cancer Foundation, cancer charity Vine House, the Alzheimer's Society and Leukaemia Research.
Rachel Adamson, a fraud solicitor at Stephensons, chose Leukaemia Research after her nephew David was diagnosed with the illness.
She said: “This event has got to be the hardest thing I have ever done, even harder than running the marathon. Although we had done the training and the cold wasn't as bad as we expected it was still very hard.
“Unbeknown to me my friend had done the neck of my wetsuit up too tight and while it felt ok standing up, as soon as I started swimming I was struggling to breathe and I didn't know why. I assumed it was the cold but it just got worse. I ended up swallowing huge amounts of Strathclyde Loch and by then I was beginning to panic.
“Eventually one of the marshals in the canoes suggested my wetsuit may be too tight and to loosen it off. I did and as soon as I did I was able to take a deep breath for the first time and I knew that the problem was solved! It took me a little while to get over this but by the time I reached the half way mark I knew that I was ok again and could finish.
“I was so close to giving up. One of the thoughts I had was the amount of money we had already raised towards our target and the thought of how I was going to explain that I didn't actually manage it. Thankfully I did and don't have to explain it!
“That in part though is down to the fantastic donations we have had so far from our friends and colleagues who have kindly sponsored us for the event and we all owe them a big thank you. We’re well on our way having raised £2,855 plus £656 in Gift Aid and hopefully people will continue to support the four good causes as we complete the events.”
For more information on the womens’ endeavours, please visit http://www.charitygiving.co.uk/lamp1.
