Swimmers go that extra mile after mile after mile

KATIE SMITH

1 More Image(s) In Gallery

THEY might have swapped the chilly Channel for an indoor heated swimming pool but they’re still going the distance for charity.

Katie Smith and Caroline Whitworth are swimming the equivalent of the English Channel in their local pool to raise money for spinal injury charity Aspire.

But 22 miles isn’t enough for 11-year-old Crompton House pupil Katie, who has dreams of becoming an Olympian and is a member of Oldham Aquatics and Crompton Classics.

She’s already reached France in the distance stakes and is on her way back to Blighty in an attempt to swim a total of 88 miles — that’s swimming the Channel and back twice!

“She’s swimming almost two miles a day, six days a week, at the moment,” said Katie’s mum Hilary. “A family friend had a car accident which left her in a wheelchair so that was why Katie wanted to get involved. I think it’s great she wants to do something for someone else. She hopes to raise about £150.”

Caroline is also putting in the strokes at Chadderton Wellbeing Centre.

Inspired by her aunt, who was badly injured in a car accident in March and was left partially paralysed, the 29-year-old mum-of-one is currently swimming 64 lengths — equivalent to one mile — twice a week.

“My aunt was involved in such an horrific car accident, if it hadn’t been for a passing off-duty fireman she probably wouldn’t have survived,” said Caroline, who’s studying to be a social worker.

“She was told if she’d been moved just a fraction she would have been left totally paralysed or dead.

“Seeing how it has affected her life makes you realise what’s involved and I wanted to do something to help people in that situation.

“I’m also doing it for the challenge. I believe you should always push yourself to the limit, you never know what you can achieve.”

Caroline says she’s also enjoying the benefits of fitness and losing weight through the epic swim but one of the hardest things is trying to keep count of all the lengths.

“I have lost count a few times, once when I got to around 30, so I had to start again.”

So far she’s raised £225 and you can make a donation at www.justgiving.com/carolinewhitworth.

To contribute to Katie’s fund visit www.justgiving.com/katieswimsthechannel