Swimming lengths for GWAAC

Sophie from Weston-super-Mare has been undertaking various swimming challenges in the last 12 months to raise vital funds for Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC). So far she has raised enough to fund more than two lifesaving missions and counting!

She decided to support GWAAC after our crew attended her grandfather in 2024. Sadly, despite their best efforts, Sophie’s grandfather passed away but Sophie and her family deeply appreciated the help and support that GWAAC’s crew provided at such a difficult time.

Her first challenge saw her swim 21 miles, the equivalent length of crossing the English Channel, to raise money for GWAAC. Sophie’s challenge saw her complete 1,344 lengths of her local swimming pool at Hutton Moor Leisure Centre, between August and October last year.

The challenge, which took less than two months to complete, raised a fantastic £3,161 for GWAAC; more than enough to fund a potentially lifesaving mission for someone in urgent need of critical care. The average cost of each mission we attend is £2,200 and this figure was Sophie’s original target, which she managed to achieve and then some!

Sophie’s dad, Ian, said: “The Great Western Air Ambulance Charity was there for him so as a family we would like to give back to this amazing charity. Sophie has always loved swimming and she wanted to do something to help. She saw that each mission is on average £2,200, so she set this as her goal.”

Sophie said: “Before my challenge, the furthest I had swum was lengths in my lessons, then I did a swimathon where I did 1 mile (64 lengths). I had to use flippers to complete this as I was so tired. But I completed my first mile all by myself and then took on this challenge for 21 miles. Mum and Dad got a critical care bear teddy from a GWAAC shop and they came with me and sat on the edge so when I was swimming, I could see Charlie sat there which gave me the boost and support I needed to continue. I am missing the swimming every week, however my hair feeling normal for days has been nice.”

The whole family was invited to our airbase to see the helicopter and meet the Specialist Paramedics in Critical Care (SPCCs) who treated her Grandad. It was an emotional and special day for the family, but also an exciting one for the kids who got to sit in a critical care car after realising they were the same make as their family car!

Charlie Rowen, GWAAC Events Manager, congratulated Sophie in her incredible achievement: “From everyone here at GWAAC I would like to say a huge thank you and congratulations to Sophie for completing her swimming challenge, what an incredible achievement! We are so inspired by Sophie’s love for swimming and determination to continue fundraising for GWAAC. We are all behind her and can’t wait to see all that she achieves this year!”

Inspired by her visit, Sophie set her next challenge — to swim the distance up Mount Everest, an incredible 40 miles (64km) to the summit of the highest peak in the world. 

At the time, Sophie said: “I have decided my goal for 2025 is to complete the Mount Everest Virtual Challenge. To be able to say I have swum the distance to Everest would be such an amazing achievement.”

Sophie has been tackling this challenge since March and is incredibly close to completing a herculean effort, with less than ten miles left to conquer. In that time, she has raised a further £2,300+. This is once again enough to fund another GWAAC mission, and with her challenge not over, she aims to reach the £3,000 mark for a second time!

Earlier this month, Sophie's efforts were highlighted during a feature on ITV West Country, with SPCC Pete and Critical Care Doctor Mark both heading to Hutton Moor to be part of the feature. In the two days that followed, an additional £200 was donated to her fundraising page by 13 different donors!