Sir John Royden who is a life member of the Anglo-Chilean Society is taking on quite a significant challenge in a few months.
Tragically, Sir John lost his sister, Emma, to a brain tumour in 2003 when she was just 32 years of age. Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of children and people under 40 but are woefully underfunded. Less than 3% of the yearly UK cancer research spend goes to research into brain tumours. This has to change.
Sir John is inspired to do something in memory of Emma and is aiming to be just the 8th person to continuously swim the whole length of Lake Geneva at 42.8 miles in 36 hours. No rest until he reaches the finishing shoreline and only treading water for a few seconds for food and water throughout the swim. Only 7 people have ever completed what is known as the ultimate ‘trophy swim’ – more people have climbed Mount Everest! This is quite a challenge!
Training has been severely hampered through the pandemic with pools closed and travel to suitable outdoor swimming locations against lockdown rules. John has taken to ingenious methods to continue his training, tethering himself to a tree and swimming ‘geo-statically’ in the middle of a deep pond (negates frequent switching direction) being one such method!
If you wish to support fellow member Sir John Royd please click below:
Sir John’s Just Giving Page - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/johnsmadswim
You can also follow Sir John here:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/john_roydens_mad_swim/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/MadRoydens
Recent Article about Sir John - https://simonmoyes.com/magazine/sports-medicine/sir-john-royden/
The Lake Geneva Swimming Association List of Legends - https://www.lgsa.com/en/list-of-legends
Be the Difference Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjLhHzmRxOg&t=2s
