Trisha Harvey (65) and her daughter Rachel (38) are donning their swimsuits, caps and goggles and tackling the challenging stretch of water between Jersey and France across the English Channel.
Team MAD (Mother and Daughter) is taking on this 14-mile journey together as a relay team and hope to raise £10,000 in support of Maggie’s. Starting at La Coupe point and finishing at Saint-Germain-sur-Ay Plage on the Normandy Coast, Trisha and Rachel will rally in one hour time slots being supported by Gillian their co-pilot who will provide fuel and much needed motivational support.
No strangers to innovative challenges, Team Mad became the first ever mother-daughter duo to cross the North Channel in 2017, braving slightly cooler waters and swimming from Ireland to Scotland in just over 16 hours. Not surprisingly, they also rallied incredible support to raise over £20,000 for Maggie’s.
Trisha, owner of Thorntonhall Therapies, said “I’m constantly being asked when I intend hanging up my goggles and retiring from crazy challenges and the answer remains the same. Whilst I’m still fit and healthy, I will continue to push myself the extra mile. Maggie’s is a charity very close to my heart and I know that their specialist cancer support can be transformational at a time when people need it most. Rachel and I find our inspiration from the great work they do and we’re happy to go the extra lengths.”
Training is in full swing for July’s 14-mile open water swim and Trisha can regularly be seen pounding the lanes at Tollcross and Helensburgh swimming baths and out in the open waters of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs. Rachel swims in High Wycombe pool and Denham Lake.
Maggie’s Glasgow, based in the grounds of The Beatson Cancer Centre, sees up to 100 visitors a day from across the West of Scotland and provides free, practical, psychological, and social support for people with cancer and their families.
Kerry Craig, Centre Head at Maggie’s Glasgow said:
“We were absolutely thrilled by this incredible challenge from Team MAD. Trisha and Rachel are wonderful supporters of Maggie’s and their bravery and determination will help us continue to offer the professional face-to-face support to people with cancer and those who love them.”
Just Giving Page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/jerseytofranceswim
Since Maggie’s opened its first centre in 1996, the charity has developed a programme of support that is proven to help people with cancer, as well as family and friends, take back control.
Maggie’s expert staff include psychologists, cancer support specialists and benefits advisors and the majority of funding comes from voluntary donations.
To find out more about Maggie’s Glasgow please visit the centre at Gartnavel General Hospital, 1053 Great Western Road, Glasgow, G12 0YN or get in touch on 0141 357 2269 OR glasgow@maggies.org
To find out more about fundraising for Maggie’s Glasgow contact the centre on 0141 330 9792 or visit www.maggies.org
