Diabetic mum completes 22 mile swimming challenge for charity

A woman with type 1 diabetes has helped raise hundreds of pounds for charity by swimming a staggering 22 miles at her local pool.
Rachel Hale, from High Wycombe, has managed to raise over £300 for Diabetes UK after taking on the charity’s annual Swim 22 challenge, which offers participants the chance to swim the length of the English Channel over a three-month period of their choice.
The 41-year-old mum-of-two, who has lived with type 1 diabetes since her childhood, swam more than 1,000 lengths of her local swimming pool in just over 2 months (April 22 – June 30) to complete the gruelling challenge.
She said: “As a member of Diabetes UK, my husband donates to the charity every month via standing order and I felt that it was about time I challenged myself to raise money for our UK-based team of researchers.
“Sometimes the challenge was hard as I didn’t always feel on top form, but the thought of swimming the length of the English Channel and doing my bit to raise awareness of the condition, kept me going.
“This has been my first challenge raising money for the charity and it’s definitely not going to be my last.”
Commenting on the feat, Jenny Gree, South East regional fundraising manager for Diabetes UK, said: “Rachel’s achievement is a great example of how people with diabetes can get involved in sport and we congratulate her on completing her Swim 22 challenge.
“Swimming is a great way for people with diabetes to stay fit and active, and for people who are at risk of Type 2 diabetes to reduce their risk.”